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ARE YOU READY TO GO GREEN?
You can find small wind turbines used on everything from remote cabins to sailboats
and other applications including utility connected homes.
According to the U.S. Census, more than 17 million homes in America are located
on land that is appropriate for a small wind system. Could your home be one?
ARE YOU READY TO GO GREEN? – There are four important factors to consider using wind as
an energy source for your house.
1. DO I HAVE A GOOD SITE?
Siting a wind generator is extremely important to the performance of the machine.
It is the difference between a machine that give you lots of energy and a garden sculpture.
The ideal location for a wind turbine is 20 feet above any surrounding object within
a 250 foot radius. This generally means your property should be at least one acre in size.
2. DO I HAVE THE RIGHT WIND RESOURCE?
Wind is the “fuel” for your wind generator. You should have at least a 9 MPH average
wind speed at your location. Wind maps
are available for the US states
which will give you an idea of the wind resource at your house. Check out these maps
and see if you have the right wind resource. You should live in a “Class One” or
better site.
If you cannot find your wind resource on the map, there are other ways.
- Contact your the closest weather station, TV or radio station. Wind patterns can change over short distances. We don’t recommend airports as they are generally located in places with the lowest potential wind.
- If you have trees in your area, use the Griggs-Putnam Energy Index
This looks at a tree and how the wind changes its shape.
If you still don’t know the wind resource, send us an
email that we can help you
with a wind resource assessment for your area.
3. WHAT ARE MY LOCAL LAWS:
The next step is to determine if you have any local laws
from a Home Owner’s Association or City or County that prohibit the use of towers.
You should research:
- If you have a Home Owner’s Association read the guidelines relating to towers or tall structures.
- Contact your local County Planning and Zoning authority and ask about the use of towers and tall
structures. Remember, the tower must be 20 feet above any surrounding object, if it is not, then performance will be lower.
4. WHAT INCENTIVES AND PROGRAMS DOES MY UTILITY OFFER?
By law, the local utility
(company you pay your electrical bill to) must purchase any excess electricity
from you. There are both utilities that encourage the use of wind systems and
discourage it. Locate your electrical bill and then find the number for customer
service. Ask them for a copy of the policy relating to “connecting a renewable
energy system to the electrical grid”.
Finally – the best news of all. Many States in the union offer various types of
tax incentives and even rebates
for your wind system.
Congratulations! If you have made it this far then it is likely that a small wind
system can save you a lot on your monthly electrical expense. Next is to use our
Contact Us page
or call us at (815) 386-1125 to let us know you're to go green and install a wind turbine!
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