Choosing Wind Power Generators for Your Home

Wind power generators are an excellent source of clean renewable energy. They are now more affordable than ever and come in many different shapes and sizes.

In this article I explain the main features you should look out for when choosing a wind powered generator.

How do wind power generators work?

When erected, wind power generators require the wind to turn the blades of the wind turbine.  When the blades turn, a pole spins within the turbine which then creates electricity.

The electricity that is generated can be connected to a large battery or the meter of your home electricity system. When connected to your home power supply you are in fact feeding your electric system in the same way the utility companies do.

How much energy can domestic wind turbines generate?

A combination of the pole length of the tower and the diameter of the turbine's rotor blades will determine how much electricity the turbine can generate. For example a turbine with a 10 foot rotor blades can generate a lot more energy than a turbine with 5 foot blades.

The efficiency of a wind power generators are determined by the diameter of the rotor blades of the turbine. So, before you decide to go a buy a wind powered generator it is a good idea to compare your individual needs with what the wind powered generator is able to provide.

If you are currently on a electricity grid that is powered by a utility company, but you want to reduce you month bills, then a 10 foot rotor turbine should be sufficient.

Turbines of this size are able to produce energy using slower wind speeds when compared to a smaller bladed version. 

With 10 foot rotor blades, wind speeds of 10-15 miles an hour can produce the same amount of energy as a 4 foot generator running in winds at 30 mph.

You will generally see the smaller 4 foot wind power generators on caravans and boats.

Occasionally, local authorities in some areas place restrictions on the heights of wind turbines (for safety reasons), so for some people four foot poles may be there only option.

However, if you live in an area with regular strong winds then this won't be problem for you.

Can I Use Wind Power Generators to run my entire home?

Unless you plan to run a mini wind farm in your garden, wind power generators alone will not be sufficient to provide power for your house as a replacement to your local utility company. This can be solved though if you used in combination with other renewable energy sources, such as solar panels.

Taller wind power generators for residential use are available (around 20 foot), but will be much more costly to install, but they will be extremely more efficient and will require much lower wind speeds.

With a taller wind turbine generator and a solar panel system, living completely "off the grid" could be possible to the point where your meter actually runs backwards. At this point you will be selling energy back to the power company!

The Benefits Of Wind Powered Turbines

Using alternative energy sources this way will allow you to supplement the electricity you are buying from your utility company. The right wind turbine can save you money in the very first year, plus you can sleep easier knowing you are doing your bit to reduce pollution.

Wind power generators provide clean renewable electricity to both home and business owners virtually anywhere in the world. The taller the generator, the more efficiently it will run at lower wind speeds. 

We recommend you checkout this awesome guide for building renewable energy solutions, including a complete wind power generator for less than $200:  Earth4Energy Renewable Energy Solution.