If you are looking to reduce your power bill or get off the grid completely, residential wind power is currently the simplest and cheapest way to do it.
A problem with wind power right now is that it is fairly expensive (though not as expensive as solar). If you were to go out and buy a wind turbine, you'll find that they might cost you $2000 to $6000 dollars.
If you have the right plans you can build your own, in fact. And it's not complicated, and it's not expensive. you can do it for around $150-$300 depending on the amount of power you want to produce.
What will you need to make your own wind generator?
You'll need a work area, good blueprints, basic tools and four to seven days.
What are the parts of a wind generator?
Four main parts in a generator are the blades and hub, the body with a DC motor, the tail and the tower. The blades will be the toughest part to build of the whole machine. They are still fairly easy with a good guide to move you along.
The motor is the most expensive component - at around 50-150$ depending on size. Your manual will detail what size motor you will need and all the technical stuff. The DC motor converts the spinning energy to electricity.
For the body it is best to use double walled stainless steel like that from a chimney pipe or wood stove. It is very cheap and easy to get and will last a long time.
The tail is simple and can be made from wood or plastic. You'll need it so that the turbine is always pointing in the direction of the wind.
For the tower, you can either build it from scratch too out of piping or recycle something like an old TV tower. People who have them in their yards may actually pay you to take them away.
These are some of the basics of building a wind turbine (and believe me, it doesn't get much more complicated). All you need now is a manual to get you started saving money and the environment.
