| Many utilities offer renewable energy electricity to | | | | electrical grid. When the wind isn't blowing, your |
| their customers. If you want to go a step further | | | | utility supplies your home with power. When the |
| than purchasing renewable energy, you may be | | | | wind is blowing, the turbine supplies your home |
| able to generate your own renewable energy by | | | | with power. Rather than storing excess power for |
| installing a wind turbine on your property. | | | | use later, the energy your home can't use is sent |
| Household wind turbines consist of a tall tower | | | | into the grid, and you will probably get paid for it. |
| supporting a turbine, the same as you'd see on a | | | | Utilities are required by law to buy power |
| large commercial wind farm. Turbine pivots to | | | | generated by small energy systems - such as a |
| catch the best wind, and sends the electricity | | | | single wind turbine. They do this through an |
| generated to power your home. | | | | agreement called net-metering, which allows your |
| The best properties for turbines are larger than | | | | meter to spin in either direction. If there's no wind, |
| half an acre, with a 250 foot radius of | | | | your meter runs forward, supplying your home |
| unobstructed space to catch the wind. The turbine | | | | with power. If the wind is up and creating more |
| works best when operating 20 feet above the | | | | power than you need, your meter runs |
| tallest obstruction, so a property with a 50 foot | | | | backward, supplying the grid with renewable |
| tree would require a turbine tower of at least 70 | | | | energy for which you'll get credit. Of course, |
| feet. Towers can be built to varying sizes, | | | | agreements will vary by utility. |
| generally between 30 and 150 feet. | | | | If you determine that your property is suitable |
| To generate enough energy, your property should | | | | for a wind turbine, you'll then need to go through |
| have an average wind speed of at least 10 mph, | | | | a process with your local planning office, applying |
| although 12 mph is better. Wind speed and | | | | for a permit and supplying electrical and |
| frequency can be determined by checking wind | | | | engineering information to have your turbine |
| maps for your area, contacting local weather | | | | approved. Household turbines are a new resource |
| stations to obtain records, or hiring a third party | | | | for property owners, and the permitting process |
| to assess your property. | | | | will most likely be new to the planning office. |
| Turbines can supply your home with energy in | | | | Working together with local offices to establish a |
| two ways. First, they can funnel energy into a | | | | permit process for wind turbines will clear the |
| battery or generator, similar to those used by | | | | way for others as this technology disperses |
| solar panels. The wind generates electricity which | | | | across the country. |
| powers your home, and the excess is stored in | | | | Small-scale efforts like home wind turbines will |
| the battery or generator for use when the wind | | | | combine to produce an energy landscape across |
| dies down. | | | | the U.S. that is more self-sufficient than ever |
| However, many turbines have the advantageous | | | | before. |
| ability to be plugged directly into your existing | | | | |