Are you looking for a way to reduce the amount you spend on your electricity each year? If so, then isn't it about time you considered getting your own renewable energy system such as a DIY wind power one? If you do go for the right type of system then you could easily find your annual electricity bill be reduced by as much as 90%. However, in order for the DIY wind power system to operate at its most effective levels you need to make sure that you get a good supply of wind blowing around your home. It is important that the wind blows consistently and at speeds of not less than 10 miles per hour throughout the day and night. In fact as you will soon discover when it comes to making electricity from wind power it is much easier than you would have thought possible. However, before you go out and buy such a system it is important that you learn more about how wind can be converted into electricity and below we provide the basics regarding this. The DIY wind power system you install will have rotors on them and it is these which the wind turns and then produces kinetic and motion energy. The turbine that is part of the system then converts these energies into electricity which you can use throughout your home. With these systems you have the choice of either going for a battery or grid connected system for your home. Either of which will ensure that your home is being provided with enough energy to run many of the modern pieces of equipment that you have in your home. In fact if you live somewhere that the wind supply is constant and fast then having to rely on the local power grid may become a thing of the past. You could actually find that you become completely self sufficient. However, don't actually disconnect your home from the local power grid as you may find that you need to use it as a backup supply on the very rare occasion when wind speed is reduced. The main times when you will need to possibly rely on the local power grid to provide electricity for your home even if you have a DIY wind power system is when wind speeds go below 10 mph. But don't forget that as soon as you notice the wind speeds have risen again you should switch back over to your own electricity generating system. If you don't then your electricity bills will become high once more. It is important that you note that there are certain advantages to be had from installing a DIY wind power system over other types of renewable energy systems. The main ones of these being that they are relatively inexpensive to install and don't need the same amount of care and attention as other types of renewable energy systems need.
What is Wind Power?
Wind power is the transformation of wind into energy, usually in the form of electricity. Wind technology brought the Nina, Pinta, and Santa Maria to North America in the 1400's and ran Dutch wind mills, so it is well-established in terms of its potential. Farmers have used wind power to pump water. Human beings have known about the power of wind for a long time and have been using it for thousands of years.
In recent years scientists have determined that the use of fossil fuels can not continue as a permanent energy solution. Oil is being used up at a frightening rate and coal pollutes the environment worse that probably any other fossil fuel. We must look towards wind, solar, water, and electricity to power our future. Today we will examine wind power, its benefits, its downsides, and its future.
What Are the Downsides to Wind Power?
As long as sailboats roamed lakes and oceans, sailors knew what the main problem with wind is: it stops. When the wind stops, the ship stops and the same is true with electricity. Yet there are places where the wind is fairly constant and where wind farms can be established-large pieces of land that hold many wind mills and can therefore generate quite a lot of electricity. To rely solely on wind power would require many batteries, high capacity storage units, and might be frustrating in some seasons.
The most polluting aspect of wind power is in the construction of the wind mills. Modern wind mills are made from high tech materials, which can be expensive. Yet after the wind mills are constructed, they can make up for their carbon footprint and then continue to generate "green" power for a long time. Large commercial windmills are also dangerous to birds, which poses a threat from animal advocacy groups.
What Are the Upsides to Wind Power?
Wind is known as a renewable resource. Unlike oil or coal, which is finite in terms of the amount, the wind goes on as long as the Earth is here. We wouldn't have to worry about running out of wind on a permanent basis, even if it dies down once in awhile.
Relative to other energy sources, wind power is the least polluting alternative energy choice.
Because the sun is often shining when the wind is down and the wind is often high when the sun is not shining, a combination of solar power and wind power would be ideal to help people kick the petrochemical habit. The United States has experienced two oil crises in the past thirty years-one in the 1970's and the one just recently. Wind power could help us solve this dependence sooner rather than later.
What is in Store for the Future of Wind Power?
Forward-thinking people are looking to wind power and solar power to generate power to accommodate our ever-increasing need for electricity. Already wind mills are available to the public; at this point they are fairly expensive. But as people adopt them, they will probably be like computers-expensive at first but eventually providing more and more power for less and less money.
The future of wind power looks bright. As with computer chips, energy conversion and storage will continue to improve. It is quite possible that within the next 20-30 years, wind power will produce as much as 100% of the energy demands of the US. This would have to be an aggressive effort with optimized wind power stations, and continuous research on improving the conversion rate. The best news of all though, is that between wind and solar power the US does have a sustainable, renewable alternative to fossil fuels.
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