subject: Home Wind Energy: 3 Steps To Achieve It [print this page] When you start seriously looking at home wind energy it is important to understand the critical need to collect data. Although it seems rather straightforward to extract energy from the wind, it is not and you need to recognize the subtleties that could seriously undermine your success. Since you are going to have this device around for many decades to come, it just makes sense to measure twice and cut once or, know what you are getting into before you pull the trigger and buy something.
Fortunately, getting your bearings when it comes to home wind energy is not that hard. It involves some data collection and a little thought, but it is well within the range of capabilities of the average home do-it-yourself guy or girl.
First, there is some data collection that must be done. There is just no way to know how much wind power you have available on your land until you do that. You simply must have to understand your wind patterns in order to properly go forward. Many people get this first and most important step wrong though. They jump to purchase, thinking they will simply find the best wind intuitively.
Secondly, there are many sites that will work around your house for home wind energy. The problem is some will be impossible because they will not pass the permitting process. You need to understand any local rules that may impact your ability to locate a turbine where you need to. There are many in your community that will not likely go along with you having wind turbine, even at your own house. That is because of the negative connotation that larger wind turbines have transferred to smaller ones. There has been a lot of bad press about how large wind turbines can kill migrating populations of birds and that has unfortunately carried over to the home wind turbine market, which is not nearly the danger to wildlife.
Lastly, you should choose a home wind turbine carefully. All are not the same. A vertical axis device with a small footprint will work well in some environments, like your roof, but a horizontal device will always produce more home wind energy.
In the final analysis, a little bit of patience and calming of your exuberance over getting this new toy will serve you in the long run. Doing your due diligence with a project like this will pay off for years to come in enhanced efficiency and home wind energy production.
