Micro Wind Turbines: Are they for everyone?
When considering the reality of adding one of the latest wind turbines to your home there are of course a number of things which you should bear in mind.
- Do you live in a built up area? Turbines in built up areas benefit from less wind than those in open spaces.
- Is your home or the area in which you live governed by strict planning laws or protections?
- Can you benefit from any government grants which may be available for environmental improvements to your home?
- Noise can be an irritant if you choose a site for the tower which may be close to a neighbours property but recent innovations have made this much less of a problem
Wind turbines need to receive winds travelling at the very least 11 miles per hour to function at their best, although some converts report slightly less wind speed and yet still maintain their turbine functions very well. Some reports maintain that an ideal wind speed for domestic turbines is around 20 miles per hour. So unless you are in an area witch catches a good amount of wind then there might be reason to think again.
Installing Wind Turbines
If you are interested in installing a wind turbine for domestic use, then you should be aware that there are two types of wind turbines and one may be more suited to your home than the other depending upon a number of factors. Roof mounted turbines are suited for most homes where there is a good access to wind; these are in the region of 1kw to 2kw. Mast mounted turbines are free-standing and are perfect for those lucky enough to have open space attached to their home; a mast mounted turbine will be in the region of 2.5kw to 6kw. It is a simple affair to decide which model you need, most average UK homes for instance are only suited to the smaller roof mounted turbines and there are also some government grants available to assist with cost in some cases.
How are Wind Turbines Beneficial?
The growing number of home owners who are installing turbines on or near to their homes speaks for just how important it is today for everyone to take responsibility for their carbon footprint. Reducing the amount of power which your household consumes is a huge step forward for the world in general. For every small wind turbine installed there is a reduction in the UK’s carbon footprint and the implications of this cannot be ignored. It is possible to store unused energy which turbines generate, nothing is wasted and if you produce a surfeit of power you could even sell it to the National Grid! The benefits are many and varied; if you are interested in becoming more self reliant then wind turbines and their many benefits are great ways to begin.
- Wind turbines are relatively cheap to buy and some people can receive grants toward the costs.
- They are environmentally friendly
- They can cut your electricity bill significantly
- You may even make some profit from your wind turbine
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