Electricity From Wind - What Do I Need?

As the political debate heats up it seems that there are very few options if we want to stay environmentally sensitive, and save money. Solar and wind energy are the obvious choices. So, if you want to get electricity from wind and save some money, this article is for you.

Using wind power is hardly a new concept. Man has utilized the power of the wind for thousands of years, designing wind mills that do everything from grinding wheat to pumping water.

The difference is that now we have technology that can convert wind energy to electrical energy more efficiently than ever before. We now have the ability to choose whether to store the electricity we create for later use, or feed it back into the commercial grid.

The key to using wind power to generate electricity is the wind turbine. The commercial variety are giant three finned windmills that stretch for kilometers following natural ridge lines to catch the most wind. This technology has now been downsized for domestic use.

The internet offers a wide range of turbines, some free standing while other models fit on your roof. The fact is when you cut down on the size you also cut down on the electricity producing capacity. Another factor that must be appreciated is that some areas do not get enough consistent wind to make it viable.

Most experts suggest that if you get consistent wind you can generate enough electricity from an average sized turbine to at least cut your electricity bill in half. What is more those savings will continue for years to come which means it can really add up to a significant amount of money.

The obvious drawback is the setup costs. An off the shelf turbine IS expensive, especially if you have to get it professionally installed as well. But, you don't have to be a professional to build your own wind turbine. Some simple tools, a good design purchased off the net, and you can get most of the parts at any electrical hardware store for around $300. Then all you need is some time to put it together, with most suggesting that you can do it in a couple of weekends.

Thus, for a relatively small investment of time and money you could build your own wind turbine and save yourself a lot of money while getting electricity from wind and lowering your carbon footprint. How cool is that?