Home Wind Power: Yes, in My Backyard!

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If you live in a residential neighborhood, be certain code restrictions do not prohibit turbines.
If you live in a residential neighborhood, be certain code restrictions do not prohibit turbines.
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A Bergey Excel 7 meter diameter household size wind turbine is installed at the home of David and Jan Blittersdorf.
A Bergey Excel 7 meter diameter household size wind turbine is installed at the home of David and Jan Blittersdorf.
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In remote areas, installing an off-grid turbine can be less expensive than extending a new power line.
In remote areas, installing an off-grid turbine can be less expensive than extending a new power line.
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Open water often means strong winds, one characteristic of a good turbine site.
Open water often means strong winds, one characteristic of a good turbine site.
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Rather than electricity, this Win-Pressor turbine produces compressed air that powers tools on this Pennsylvania farm.
Rather than electricity, this Win-Pressor turbine produces compressed air that powers tools on this Pennsylvania farm.
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Southwest Windpower’s Skystream 3.7 powers an RV park.
Southwest Windpower’s Skystream 3.7 powers an RV park.
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This Bergey Excel turbine is mounted on a tilt-down tower to enable on-the-ground maintenance.
This Bergey Excel turbine is mounted on a tilt-down tower to enable on-the-ground maintenance.

So maybe you’re thinking you want to generate your own electricity, and home wind power has crossed your mind. After all, who really enjoys paying a utility bill? Small wind energy is renewable, non-polluting, and, in the right circumstances, can save you money.

But is home wind power a good choice for you? The answer may surprise you, because living in a windy area is not necessarily the most important factor. In fact, many properties are not a good fit for installing a wind turbine even if they have a lot of wind (for reasons we’ll get into). On the other hand, if you want to go off-grid and produce your own electricity, you almost certainly want to consider installing a home wind turbine, even if your location is not notably windy.

Off-Grid Residential Wind Power

Here’s the deal: For a home wind turbine to be worth your investment, you really need to live on an acre or more. That’s the guideline from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Guide to Small Wind Electric Systems, a free publication for homeowners. Living in a rural area helps, because if you’re in a residential neighborhood, you’re likely to run into conflicts with zoning and local homeowners associations. Additionally, you’re more likely to find a high average wind speed in wide open spaces far from windbreaks such as buildings and trees. Altogether, while installing a small wind turbine in a city or suburb is certainly possible, you’re much more likely to have the right conditions for home wind power if you live well outside city limits.

That’s the case for Cam and Michelle Mather, who live on 150 forested acres in rural Ontario. The Mathers live in an off-grid home powered by solar panels and their micro wind turbine, a 1-kilowatt (kw) Bergey Excel 1. On such a large property, they’re nowhere near their closest neighbors, so there’s no one who might be upset about the noticeable — but not unpleasant — wind turbine noise or the very visible 100-foot tower in the couple’s yard.

  • Published on Mar 1, 2013
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