Wind Energy - 5 Reasons Why You Need It

The economy is taken it's biggest hit in decades over the last year or so. Many families are struggling and the increasing cost of energy is just one more hurtle they must overcome. Using wind energy to help cut your electric costs is one easy way you can help out the planet, and your finances.

Here are the top 5 reasons you should consider using the wind for your electricity needs:

1. Completely free to use and the government hasn't worked out how to tax it yet. Wind is available anywhere in the world.

2. Technological advances in the way electricity is generated from the wind makes it highly reliable source of energy. Just one turbine can save you up to 60% off your energy bill.

3. Wind turbines are now available in smaller residential sizes that can easily fit in your backyard and even on your roof.

4. One home sized wind turbine can create the same amount of electricity as 5 solar panels. You can use the turbine day or night. Solar panels only work during the day when there is sunlight.

5. With advances that are still being made, wind turbines will only continue to get more and more efficient which means that you will be able to benefit from improved electricity creation and storage techniques in the years to come.

Just as wind energy can power a child's toy and give great pleasure and it can also be harnessed for larger wind turbines. In order to protect the environment by reducing your carbon footprint as well as save some money it only makes sense to fully utilize whatever resources we have available to us.

Instead of spending fortunes to find new pockets of oil and then pump it to the surface and refine it (all of which creates a lot of negative impact on the environment) why not spend time and money finding sources of energy that are free to use, renewable, and friendly to the planet? For these reasons using wind and solar energy just seems like good common sense.

Is Wind Energy Just a Bunch of Hot Air?

If wind energy is such as great way to save money why aren't more people, and companies, using it? That is a question that gets asked a lot, and it's a good one. As with any new technology there are some pros and cons of using the wind to generate electricity. Hopefully the information below will make it easier for you to decide if it's right for you.

The idea is very simple, wind power is captured by a wind turbine which then turns that energy into electricity. That electricity can be used right away, fed into the community power grid or saved to be used at a later date by being stored in batteries.

Many people and businesses are beginning to see the real advantage to this kind of energy: it's free, readily available, doesn't pollute, and is renewable. If you look, you will see more small turbines popping up in your neighbors backyards and on the roofs of local businesses.

But there are downsides. The initial expense to purchase a turbine might be out of reach for many because the purchase price for a small turbine starts at about $600 and can cost as much as $12,000. However, there is now a range of sources which can give you the directions of how to build your own for just a couple hundred dollars.

Another positive is that you may even be eligible for a tax credit if you install one at your home, since many government organisations are now trying to encourage this type of development. And don't worry, modern turbines are quite small and come in a range of styles that can be mounted right on your roof or erected in your yard.

The downside of using the wind for electricity is that while the technology for converting the energy of the wind into electricity has improved dramatically it still has a long way to go to be truly efficient. It will also take more than one turbine to create all the electricity the average house will use in a day.

This may not have answered all your questions but this information may help you as you make up your mind as to whether or not using wind energy for your home or business is the right way for you to go. It's certainly a great option if you want to save money and save the planet. Don't stop now, surely it is worth a little bit more research.

Wind Energy - Turbines for Home Use

When driving out west recently I could not help noticing a couple of new wind farms, with dozens of gigantic wind turbines, making energy while the sheep continued to graze underneath. In Australia, when people suggest wind turbines this is the picture they imagine, but the reality is that small turbines are now available that can be set up in your own backyard which can enable you to generate your own electricity.

In my local context it is rare to see these small turbines which can be attached to your rooftop but the few that are appearing almost look like some sort of sculpture. They're small, compact, and even attractive which is why they are beginning to catch on, even some businesses have converted to wind power to subsidise their electricity needs.

You can use the same principles for your home and you might be surprised to learn that a small, home sized, turbine can be purchased for between $600-$12,000, or you can build your own for a few hundred dollars. Most suppliers suggest that it will only take a day or two to build and you can even make it into a family project.

The good news is that one small turbine can cut your electric bill by up to 80%. That is significant especially when you remember that the savings will go on as long as you keep your turbine running. However, you must remember that one turbine won't supply your home with all the power it needs. You will probably still need to buy some electricity.

Even better still, if you install several turbines and put more energy into the grid when it is windy, on the calm days you will still be in front financially. Alternatively you could combine your wind power with solar power by installing solar panels too, which will continue to supply energy on still days. Between these two sources of renewable energy you'll be able to be even more self sufficient!

No matter what you choose to do: buy a turbine, build your own turbine, have multiple turbines, or combine wind energy with solar energy, you still have a viable option when it comes to going green and saving money. Don't put it off any longer, pick the option that is right for you and start today.