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It's appealing to look at a tall building or house and think about putting a turbine on top of it. This would eliminate the cost of the tower and reduce wiring costs. Unfortunately it's not that easy for two reasons.

The first relates to the quality of the wind. By putting a turbine on a building, the turbine will be higher and should get stronger winds, but quality wind is essential if a wind turbine is to produce power. Houses, much like trees, cliffs, and other wind turbines, create turbulence…

Good question. Yes, there are currently federal incentives for installing renewable energy. Specifically, there’s a tax credit for installing residential solar energy systems, including solar-electric and solar water heating systems. These incentives don’t expire until the end of 2008. However, I think many people are not aware that the tax credits for solar are still available because a number of other federal energy incentives expired at the end of 2007. (Read more details about the incentives…

Windows and solar hot-air collectors are about equal in collection capability. I think the choice boils down to which works best for your situation. To me, these are the pros and cons.

Window Pros:

• Collect heat and provide daylight.

• Views.

• Nice bright interior.

• With good thermal …

Usually when people say they are living “off the grid” they mean that, very simply, their home doesn’t get its electricity from the power lines. Instead, they’re living without electricity, or generating their own. However, the term is sometimes used to mean something broader. “Living off the grid” can imply that you’re self-sufficient in other ways, too: For example, you may be getting your water from a well, and heating your home with a woodstove. Being completely off grid would make you compl…

There are several different ways you can purchase green electricity, but in general, options depend on where you live.

The simplest way to buy green power is directly from your current utility. Many utilities already offer green pricing options — the Department of Energy has a good list.

Other locations offer green marketing options. In this case, you choose your own utility, so you can pick one that provides power from sustainable sources.

If neither of these options are available where you live, …

Yes, it looks like there are quite a few wind turbine dealers in Michigan, so you shouldn’t have trouble finding one near you.

In general, when you’re looking for information about renewable energy, your state energy office can be a very helpful resource. In this case, the Michigan state energy office has exactly the information you’re looking for. Here’s a link to their pdf brochure of solar and wind power equipment suppliers in Michigan.

Another way to find local wind turbine retailers is to go …

Yes, if you’re thinking about purchasing a renewable energy system, it’s definitely a good idea to find out about state and local incentives you may qualify for. A good place to start is the Department of Energy’s list of state specific resources. Here’s their information specifically for Texas.

One of the many helpful resources you’ll find on these state pages is contact information for your state energy office. Here’s some specific information on renewable energy incentives from the Texas State…

My wind mentor Tupac Diaz always said a wind turbine isn't a toy, it's a baby. He was teaching me to take care of our turbines, making sure everything was working all right because once the baby goes up, it has to face harsh weather. 

A wind turbine can live for 20 to 30 years. Depending on the manufacturer, it will require maintenance once or twice a year throughout its lifetime but it’s a good idea to inspect it in the fall and spring. On good machines, this one or two day a year will be the on…