subject: Residential Wind Power: 3 Steps To Achieve It [print this page] Residential wind power can seriously cut your power bill if you do it right. It is not as easy as you might think to get it right though and there are several steps you need to take at the outset that will lead to success.With power costs rising the world over, everyone needs to look into ways they can make residential wind power or at least some means of making renewable energy at the house.
While it is possible to win with home wind turbines even if you don't follow these 3 steps, by following them, you stand a lot better chance of getting it right the first time and making the most power possible from the wind that you have right from the outset
Assess your personal wind energy - you simply must understand how much you really have to work with. Many people miss this step and sub-optimize the amount of power they can make. By taking an inventory of the wind energy available around your land you can know the best place to install your wind turbine. There are definite patterns of wind on your property and you need to map them. Each area forms its own microclimate and understanding each microclimate will lead you to the best decision about where to install your new device.
Check out local rules about what is allowed and not allowed - your local government will likely have taken a position on wind turbines. That position will show up in the form of permitting restrictions you will encounter. While they are usually not that ominous anymore, (in this age of more and more people considering personal wind power), they are rules you will have to live with. They may be in the form of setbacks from other people's property lines or they may involve the maximum height that it can be installed.
Decide what one thing you want to power with your home wind turbine - it is probably not practical to try to power your entire house (unless your house is very small). Otherwise, it is better to pick one small device, like a freezer, and focus on powering that as your first foray into residential wind power. It is tempting, but do not get overly ambitious.
Following these 3 rules will put you in a perfect position to reap the most benefit possible from the residential wind energy you have on your property. By doing this homework you are now in a position to narrow down and pick just the right wind device from the myriad choices out there.
