Home Wind Energy: What You Need To Know - By: Brent Crouch

Installing a home wind energy system is a big investment. There are positive and negative aspects to such a project, and determining where your property stands is an important first step in the decision making process.

Advantages

Wind turbines are a free, clean renewable source of electricity. The turbine will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fossil-fuel energy use for the household.

In areas with high, steady wind velocity that can maximize a wind system's efficiency, electricity savings can reach 50-90% annually.

Generating its own wind energy reduces a household's dependence on the utility company, creating savings on electric bills. Installing a wind turbine system is a vote with your dollars in support of renewable energy.

Each small turbine installed on a property sends a message to politicians and the marketplace that consumers support and will buy wind power systems. An efficient and reliable wind energy system can add to property value.

Disadvantages

Wind energy systems are intermittent, meaning they generate electricity only part of the time, while the grid provides a continuous source of electricity. If the wind speed fell for a few days, the battery could run low and the system could fail to provide electricity for the home. For this reason, wind systems require back-up power, either from the grid or a generator.

Upfront costs for a wind turbine system range from $6,000 - $45,000, a substantial investment.

Neighbors and homeowners associations may not look favorably on a wind turbine towering 100 feet overhead. There may also be zoning issues with installing such a tall structure.

Even the newest and most advanced wind turbine creates noise. Especially during periods of high wind, when the rotors are moving quickly and the guide wires are creaking, turbine noise is an unavoidable aspect of owning a wind energy system.

Small wind turbines are a fairly new technology to hit residential properties. This is a disadvantage in that some people can be misinformed about how the systems work. For example, wind turbines are thought to kill birds, but really the danger is small. More birds are killed by glass doors and windows than by wind turbines. Another example is the idea that a turbine will interfere with television or radio signals. This isn't the case at all.

Along with the general advantages and disadvantages of a small wind system, there are personal considerations.

A turbine tower will become part of your property landscape. To some, the appearance of a turbine shows their commitment to renewable energy and represents their values. To others, it may stick out as an eyesore to the rest of the property.

Energy savings can be estimated, but actual savings is different for every household. Measuring the expected energy savings based on wind energy generation, the price of electricity, and the amount the house uses will determine the benefits of a wind energy system on finances.

The upfront costs and ongoing maintenance of a residential wind system may be a small investment to a household expecting big energy savings and improved property value. To others, the investment may be too much to handle.

Weighing the advantages and disadvantages of a wind turbine system is important because it is a big investment that can have potentially large benefits for the household and property.

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