Wind is a form of solar energy. Wind turbines convert the kinetic energy in the wind into mechanical power, or a generator can be added to convert the mechanical power into electricity. A windmill works the exact opposite of a fan. A fan uses electricity to make wind and a wind turbine uses wind to make electricity. The wind turns the blades, which spin a shaft. The shaft is connected to a generator which makes electricity.

With the skyrocketing prices of electricity, the home owner of today would be well advised to invest in a wind energy machine to create their own electricity. Not only to save money, but to actually make money. The residential windmills are connected to a storage unit. If the homeowner uses less electric than is supplied by the wind generator, the excess is stored. When the storage unit is almost full, call the electric company and they will purchase the excess from you. You make money, they save money because it is cheaper to purchase the energy from you than to create more of their own. In the end, they also make money.

Many homeowners get a little worried when you mention wind energy turbines. They immediately picture the huge windmills you see popping up along the highways in the Midwest, particularly when you enter California. These wind farms are producing energy for the utility companies. The residential wind energy turbines are usually below 100 kilowatts and are much smaller than the windmill turbines of several megawatts in the wind farms. And they are much cheaper to construct.

And using the wind is one of the best ways to save on our natural resources. With the public demand to become 'earth friendly' or 'go green', the internet has become saturated with web sites that promise to show you how to build your own windmill at huge savings. And there are books also claiming to show you how to build your own windmill under $200. But even if you have to spend a thousand dollars to build a wind energy system, you will recoup your costs in a matter of months, not years.

The bottom line is savings. If you want to save money on your energy bills, think wind. And it doesn't hurt to remember you're preserving the earths natural resources for your children and grandchildren.