New Wind Power Designs Give Affordable Home Options
On a high lush green mountainside rows upon rows of stark white wind turbines face the persistent breeze, their blades silently turning, an icon of green energy. The sheer size of these wind farms lead most people to believe that wind energy initiatives are left only to large energy corporations or local government. Not so. Today, a new era of wind power designs can help you get in on the green revolution.
Wind generator research has long favored wind power as a renewable clean resource for producing electricity, and a number of companies and DIY enthusiasts are keen to expand on residential applications. According to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) small wind turbines added a total of 17.3 Megawatts of generating capacity throughout the US in 2008; a 78 percent increase in the domestic market for small wind turbines from the previous year.
There are a number of factors contributing to the rise in residential wind power use. Besides the obvious environmental benefits, the reductions in energy costs are significant with the AWEA projecting 50 to 90 percent reduction in electric energy costs depending on the region. Some users are even able to generate enough power for the power grid that the electric company pays them for their credit. In addition to the lower energy costs the U.S. Government provides a 30 percent tax credit on the cost of purchasing the home wind power kit as a part of the 2008 economic stimulus package. Several states also provide additional tax credits for start-up costs, lowering the initial investment considerably. It’s no wonder that across the nation many home owners are taking advantage of the tax credits available and lowering their energy costs with this green source of energy.
Typical home wind power designs help the consumer construct a small wind turbine that sits on the roof of the home, while other larger wind power kits provide for a free-standing tower for the turbine to be mounted on. The operation of a home wind turbine is very similar to those of the turbines on a wind farm. The wind turns the blades, which turns a shaft that is connected to a generator. This generator produces electricity that is in turn used to power the residence. The amount of power generated depends upon the amount of wind where the turbine is erected and the diameter of the blades. A larger diameter in the blade array allows for more wind to be captured and therefore generate more electricity. The turbines themselves have vanes or tails attached to them to point the turbine in the direction of the prevailing wind so as to improve gathering efficiency.
Installation of the turbine itself requires basic mechanical know-how and most home owners will find it an easy weekend project. While you may not be able to construct an entire wind farm in your neighborhood, the energy savings and the positive impact you can make on the environment with your own small wind turbine will put you well on your way to joining the green revolution.
One of the more innovative options to come along in the past five years has been the Magenn Power Air Rotor System (or MARS). Orignally conceived for small rural communities, farms, and other isolated areas which have difficulty with traditional power sources, new designs have put MARS to good use for the home user too.
Finding more information about the cutting-edge wind power designs, and how they can help power your home, just do a simple Google search on "home wind power."
