Residential Renewable Energy FAQ's

How does renewable wind energy work?

Your wind turbine installed on top its tower, collects the wind's kinetic energy and converts it to electricity that your home can use. Most home settings combine wind energy with either "grid power" from your local utility company, or sue a hybrid wind-solar energy system, to endure a steady supply of power. When there isn't enough wind (usually 7-10 mph) for the wind turbine to work, your home is either powered by the utility company, just as it was before you installed your wind energy system, or by the solar energy source.

What size turbine do I need?

Power output from a wind turbine depends on the size of the rotors and the wind speed. A 10 kWh turbine in a relatively active wind area can easily produce enough energy to power your home for a year, as the average North American home uses approximately 10,000 kWh annually. Compare that to the mammoth 1.5 Megawatt turbines used to produce commercial wind energy electricity, which can power 500 homes each year.

Will a turbine really save me money?

A wind energy system, especially a wind-solar hybrid system, can cut your electricity bills from 50 to 100%. Customers that remain "on the grid" can see bills of $8 to $10 for much of the year, while those that choose to go completely "off grid" can eliminate their electrical bills altogether.

Aren't wind turbines noisy?

Well, yes and no. Turbines do generate some noise, but it is usually not sufficient to be a problem watching tv or carrying on conversation. Most small residential turbines produce less noise than your average washing machine.

What about electrical interference?

Residential wind turbines do not produce any electrical interference. Your television and radio signals, mobile phones and other electronic devices will work as they always have.

How much land do I need?

Most towers can be installed in one small square yard of level ground. Most wind energy experts, however, recommend at least half to one full acre of land on which to install your wind turbine system. You need to ensure that you have enough room away from potentially turbulence-causing structures, such as buildings and trees, to allow your turbine to function optimally. A hybrid system, with its additional solar panels, will take up more room, of course. You will also need interior or sheltered areas for the controller, battery bank and inverter placement.

Your tower is going to need 80 to 120 feet of clear vertical space. This is because the higher you go, the better the wind. Turbulence can disrupt wind flow around buildings and through trees. Also take into consideration, the higher the altitude, the higher the wind's speed. So, a tower of 80 to 120 feet high is necessary to capture the ideal wind to produce your home's energy.

Is wind power really environmentally friendly?

Yes. Wind turbine systems use no energy, and using one can offset the pollution that would be produced on your behalf by the utility company. A wind energy system can, over its lifetime, offset greenhouse gases that would have otherwise been produced to power your home by as much as 200 tons. That's a lot of carbon dioxide and other pollutants that you'll not be contributing.

Is wind power right for everyone?

Residential wind energy systems have been installed in 47 of the 50 states, mostly in the Midwest and Northeast. The US Department of Energy has issued wind maps for all 50 states, and Canada's individual provincial Ministries of Natural Resources have done the same for their residents. Simply referring to these maps will give you some idea of the practicality of installing a wind energy system for your home.

A hybrid wind-solar system may be a better choice than a wind system alone. When the sun is shining, the wind tends to slack off. When the sun sets, the wind picks up. The windy Winter months have the least hours of daylight, while the sun-soaked Summer typically sees the lowest average wind speeds. A hybrid system's versatility can ensure that your home always has the power it needs.

How does a hybrid wind-solar system work?

Hybrid wind-solar systems utilize both a wins turbine and one or more solar panels to generate renewable energy for your home. The wind turbine harnesses the wind's kinetic energy. Should the wind speed drop below the "cut in" speed, 7 mph in most cases, the solar panels will be there, converting sunlight into usable electricity. As the two systems complement each other, a hybrid wind-solar system works well for most locations.

How much does a wind energy system cost compared to other alternative sources of electricity?

A wind system can be more expensive to install than diesel, biomass or mini-hydro systems. Wind power, however, is less costly and easier to maintain over the long run. A diesel generator can costs tens of thousands to operate in today's high-priced fuel market. A mini-hydro system will require much more maintenance and upkeep than a turbine. So, while your initial lay-out may be more, the money you save over time will more than make up for it.

Is the investment really worth it?

A wind turbine can pay for itself in savings in 3 to 15 years, depending on your average electricity costs, the cost of your system, and how much utility electricity you replace with it. After that, your power is virtually free. As turbine systems have a lifespan of 20 to 25 years, and require nearly zero maintenance during that lifetime, your wind energy system can pretty much take care of itself. There are also several governmental incentives in pace to repay you in some way for using an alternative energy source. Add to your economic returns to the environmental benefits of using wind energy and a wind energy system becomes a very wise investment indeed.