Whatever your reason, if you are interested in converting to a renewable source of energy, you need to consider wind power.  Solar power and wind power are the most common forms of renewable energy for household use.  You can read more about solar energy in other posts on this blog.  Today I want to write a little about windmill electricity.

Windmill electricity for residential use works best in certain conditions.  First of all, you need space for the windmill.  The windmill, also known as a wind turbine or wind generator, is a tall, tapered tower with three to five blades affixed to a hub located at the top of the tower.  The height of the tower can vary depending on the average wind speed in your location.  A lower wind speed requires a higher tower.  But you don’t need only vertical space for the tower, you need horizontal space, too.  Typically, windmill electricity is best suited for areas that are more than an acre. 

While you need both horizontal and vertical space, it also needs to be said that you need . . . are you thinking what I’m thinking? . . . wind.  For windmill electricity to work, you should have, at a minimum, an average wind speed of about 11 miles per hour.  And you should note that wind speed can vary within a geographical area depending on the precise location of the windmill.  My advice is to speak to a wind power consultant before you make any firm plans.

If you do meet the conditions for successful windmill electricity generation, you will find that you can heat and light your home as easily as the wind blows.  Windmill electricity can also be stored for later use, so nothing, not even the wind, is wasted.

If you are interested in learning more about solar or windmill electricity, visit Earth4Energy to see how you can install residential wind turbines yourself for less than $150!

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