In 2005, wind machines in the united State generated a total of 17.8 billon kwh per year of electricity, enough to serve more than 1.6 million households. This is enough electricity to power a city the size of Chicago, but it is only a small fraction of the nation's total electricity production, about 0.4 percent. The amount of electricity generated from wind has been growing fast in recent years, tripling since 1998.

Wind power is adaptable, plentiful and the fastest growing form of energy in the world. It's non-pollution wind power provides cost competitive energy for uses as property energy generation and commercial facilities. If you have the space and vertical clearance, you can lower you emissions and utility bills by taking advantage of wind power.

FIND wind power system providers in your area

How Wind Power Works

Like old fashioned windmills, today's wind machines use blades to collect the wind's kinetic energy. Windmills work because they slow down the speed of the wind. The wind drives the blades causing lift, like the effect on airplane wings, causing them to turn. The blades are connected to a drive shaft that turns an electric generator to produce electricity.

Wind Power System

A wind system typically lowers electric bills by 50-90% depending on the size of the system and the wind patterns of the site. There are small, medium to large size units, that can fulfill supplemental to all of the electric needs of a business.

Wind power systems are optimal in rural areas or for properties with an acre or more of land. Check with your neighbors and local zoning laws because even small systems can be set up in a suburban area.

The horizontal axis turbine is most common today, sporting two or three blades atop a tower. Blades capture the wind and are made of fiberglass, polyester, epoxy resins or wood. The nacelle is the casing for the turbine components; it is generally made of fiberglass. Small wind turbines have a swept blade area of 7 to 22 feet. An upwind turbine faces into the wind and a downwind turbine faces away. Many wind turbines are mounted on a tower to capture the most energy. At 100 feet (30meters) or more above ground, they can take advantage of faster and less turbulent wind.

The U.S. Departments of Energy has an excellent guide to Small Wind for Small Businesses (see links below). Visit the following sites for more information and take advantage of all the resources:

http://www.energy.gov/energysources/wind.htm
http://www.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/windpoweringamerica/small_wind.asp

Be sure to look at the state-by-state guide to regulations and incentives for wind power in your state at http://www.awea.org/smallwind/states.html

Wind Power Costs & Incentives

The amount of money a small wind turbine saves you in the long run will depend upon it cost, the amount of electricity you use, the average wind speed at your site, and other factors.

Small wind energy systems cost from $3,000 to $5,000 for every kilowatt of generating capacity, or about $40,000 for a l0-kw installed system. Your payback period can range between 5-15 years depending on the size of the system,  the amount of power you use, and any tax or other incentives. Just like solar, wind power is a long-term green investment.

It's important to take advantage of rebates or tax credits available for small wind system installation. Many states offer rebate or tax credit programs to encourage the uptake of small wind energy systems.

To see state and local incentives please visit: http://www.dsireusa.org/

Resourceful wind power Links

State Wind Resource Map
http://www.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/windpoweringamerica/wind_maps.asp
National Wind Technology Center – http://www.nrel.gov/wind/
Wind Powering America
http://www.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/windpoweringamerica/wind_maps.asp
Utility wind integration Group - http://www.uwig.org/
American Wind Energy Association - http://www.awea.org/smallwind/

Individual results of using green products and services listed herein may vary. Low Impact Living, Inc. takes no responsibility  for individual results, nor for service providers or products listed on this website