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Can You Purchase Residential Wind Turbines
Wind power is not limited to commercial activity. While wind farms may be very popular, they are not the only place to find solar wind power. These days it is also possible to purchase residential wind turbines.
Wind power first began to be used about 5,500 years ago in Babylon for irrigation systems. Wind power was also used for shipping and sailing purposes, and then later for natural ventilation. Eventually, wind power began to be used for pumping water and grinding grain. During this time, vertical wind turbines, which were large shafts with vertical rectangular blades attached at the top, were used.
Wind turbines were largely absent from power generation before the first contemporary version showed up in the early 1980s. At this point wind turbines came in horizontal form: a large shaft with horizontal, rectangular blades attached to the top. This version is still most commonly used.
Residential wind turbines work in the same manner as commercial wind turbines. The wind turbine is installed on the top of the tower, collects kinetic energy from the wind, then converts the energy to usable electric energy. First, this energy is applied to the home, then later, if there is any excess energy, it can be sold back to the power company for a profit.
Because wind can be intermittent, most homes that use wind power are also served simultaneously by a local utility company. This helps to even out the potential uneven flow of energy coming from the wind. Wind speeds lower than 7-10 mph do not have enough power to collect energy. As wind power increases, wind turbines have the power to generate enough energy for the home and do not need the extra network energy.
After the initial cost, small wind turbines can save a large amount of money. The renewable solar energy derived from wind power can lower your electric bill by 50 to 90 percent. The total saved, and sold back to the utility company, is determined by the amount of electricity used, the average wind speed at the location, and other factors such as maintenance costs.
The size of wind turbine needed is different from home to home. Homes use about 9,400 kWh of electricity, on average, per year. The amount of wind generated depends on the location, but it is necessary to have a wind turbine in the range of five to 15 kilowatts to meet this demand.
A residential wind turbine is a great way to reduce your carbon footprint, but whether its right for you depends on your location and property size. Wind turbines produce renewable, pollutant-free energy, which is a good reason to use one if you have the means to do so.
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