subject: Electric Windmills: 3 Things Wrong With Them [print this page] All is not perfect in home wind turbine landAll is not perfect in home wind turbine land. Just because you want to sponsor such a project at your house does not mean you have any business getting one. You need to do some careful study to be able to determine if electric windmills should be in your future.
These are the 3 big problems associated with them...
1. They are perceived as being loud - Wind turbines in general are about as loud as a home air conditioner. Even the larger ones for not that bad. But the public's perception is that they produce a lot of noise. The problem is really the fact that the public perceives them as loud and annoying and not they really produce an actual problem that will be troubling to your community. But, you still have to deal with the fact that the perception is out there alive and well in most communities around the country.
2. Wind turbines need a steady stream of wind to work right - In order to get the absolute most out of a wind turbine at home, you need to have a steady stream of strong wind round-the-clock. The problem is the way it is a very intermittent source and you cannot rely on it being available when you want the power that you need. Most electricity sources require it all the time, like for example, a freezer or refrigerator. If you do not have a steady stream of wind and if you cannot locate your turbine in the pathway of a strong wind, for example, in an urban community, then you may have a problem.
3. Home wind turbines are expensive if done right - If you do your homework and find out the average wind speed around your property, then you are likely to have the best of all possible scenarios because you fully understand the requirements of your particular wind turbine and the situation in which you are actually going to install it. Many people assume that their wind is strong because they have a strong intuitive feel that it is the correct thing to do and their neighbors have wind turbines as well. That is not the case however and many people need additional equipment and devices like wind turbine towers to mount their wind turbines on to make them effective. This can add quite a lot of cost to the situation and in some cases even double it.
In summary, electric windmills can be a great way to make some independent home power but they are not right in all circumstances.
