subject: Wind Generated Electricity: Easiest First 2 Steps [print this page] To get wind generated electricity at your home is not a difficult proposition. However, the preparation and planning may be more involved than you think.
When they first start looking into wind energy, most people think there won't be that much to analyze, but the wind patterns can be quite complex and you need to plan to spend some time collecting data before you start getting serious about the specific wind turbine for the home.
There are 2 steps that are unavoidable and should be the first things you do as you are trying to get your arms around the details of this project
Study your home wind - This is a very necessary step but one that is often not done. It is so easy and seductive to just assume that you have enough wind to get the job done based on either your intuition or something you know that your neighbors have done. If your neighbors have a wind turbine and it has been successful, it is very easy to get pulled into that orbit and to just assume that it will work for you as well. However, that may most definitely not be the case. It is something that you must do if you are to get a firm grip on the reality of your particular home and the problems associated with green wind energy there.
All locations have a different microclimate and if you don't account for that, you were going to be very likely to under-optimize the amount of wind energy that you can cultivate and harvest. You simply have to put the device in a location that will reap the most benefit from the wind if you're going to have a successful project. The friction that surrounds your house-the trees and buildings and so forth-will block and redirect your wind, so if you are careful about where you locate the turbine that you buy, then you will unlikely maximize the results of your efforts.
Check out your potential stumbling blocks before you begin - All is not just perfect and rosy when it comes to installing a wind turbine at your home. There are those out in your community you would like to see your efforts fail. That is because they do not want an ugly, noise producing wind turbine in their neighborhood. Their negative assumptions and notions about wind turbine devices stems from the large wind turbine farms that utilities have and the amount of noise and unsightliness associated with these facilities.There is nothing you can really do about that preconceived notion, but you can make sure that you understand your community's position on the subject before you go out and actually buy a wind turbine device. That can save you a lot of money in the long run because it could well be you just need to buy a particular type and located in a particular location in order to achieve your community's acceptance.
In the final analysis you will save yourself money by not jumping right in the fray and buying something before you have done adequate planning. A little upfront planning will take you a long way and will likely prevent time-wasting mistakes.
