Eco Friendly House And Garden

So, you have read about the benefits of having a residential wind turbine to create your green energy – but are you going to buy a ready-made one or build your own?

Well, I have found a few helping hands for you if it’s the build your own option, from people who have been-there-and-done-that. Obviously every household has different energy needs and hopefully there will be something here for everyone.

The following ebooks can be downloaded straight to your home computer, so no need for all that paper or books to be made and posted out to you – you just read the information and only print the essential pages that you need!

Right, lets get going:
Green Energy 4 A Green Earth: Simple secrets to building your own wind turbines and also solar power energy. All this from a man with over 30 years electrical experience! Click Here!

Energy2Green: This is a really easy to follow and well laid out guide to making your own ‘windmills’ where you can start creating energy straight away – and therefore saving money! Filled with testimonials about it’s easy and effective techniques – you can get your wind turbine started for as little as $200 rather than costly ‘ready-made’ wind turbines. Click Here!

Homemade Wind Generator: from a couple who did it themselves and who are now live ‘off-grid’ and generating all their own energy – and if you are quick – they are currently offering you all their wind energy advice for just $10! They also offer other information about solar energy and building your own gas-free car! Click Here!

If you are still not sure about building your own wind turbine, and don’t mind paying the extra for peace of mind and for an instant result – then try a quick look at these 2 sites for ideas and prices:

In the UK: The Centre for Alternative Technology (CAT) offer small windchargers starting from as little as £300 – and many books as well. You will of course need to check the type of turbine you will need for your individual energy needs, as the smallest one may not power a larger or more energy consuming environment!. Orders over £40 in UK are free – but higher prices for worldwide delivery.

In the US: There are a whole load of energy companies that sell small residential wind turbines and this extensive list will certainly set you on the way to your purchase – US Small Wind Turbines

Finding a local manufacturer will also cut down on transport costs – as if you fly one from coast to coast it would take ages to ‘earn back’ the energy from the journey with just your wind output!

Let me know how it goes!

Small Scale Wind Turbines – Are They Worth It?

The simple answer is ‘yes’ of course they are – but the reason many people don’t buy and install large or small scale wind turbines is because too many reports base their decision on whether they are ‘cost-effective’ rather than whether or not they save ‘energy’.

This slightly detracts from the idea that we as a society are all supposed to be ‘saving energy’ and turns it into whether or not you personally are ‘saving money’.

If you genuinely want to live a more sustainable life then you should either buy or build your own wind turbine to reduce your dependence on fossil fuels – and help reduce the need (or excuse) for the government to build new coal-fired power stations.

I am well aware that there a financial constraints for all areas of our lives – including kids, holidays and mortgages – but if you have made a conscious effort to reduce your energy consumption then a wind turbine will of course take ages to ‘earn it’s cost back’ – as you are using less energy!

Wind turbines are more ‘cost effective’ if you use a lot of electricity on washing, drying, console games and heating and plan to continue to do so – as you will see the savings rack up a lot faster than those who are more energy-conscious.

So in my book, if you want to have an eco-friendly house – the cost shouldn’t be the main issue.

So, How Do Wind Turbines Work?
It all depends on something we have a lot of – and it’s free and carbon, nitrogen and methane free!

Wind turbines – as their name suggests – harness the power of the wind (which is free and ever coming) which in turn, rotate specially shaped wind turbine blades. This rotation transfers the energy from the blowing wind down into a turbine which changes it into another energy – electricity.

Depending on the size of the turbine and the strength and continued blowing of the wind you will produce more or less energy. I have seen small wind turbines on canal boats and residential wind turbines on garage roofs and sides of houses, larger ones in stables and in gardens, and of course ginormous wind turbines in large scale establishments or in wind farms.

Now, you can use that energy as it is created and store ‘spare’ energy to use later in special batteries or, you can let excess electricity be pumped back into the National Electricity Grid – and get paid for it!

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Wind Energy:
Depending on how fussy and detailed you want to be with your own argument, there are a few for either side.

Advantages:

• Cutting your Carbon Footprint – wind energy is green and renewable.
• Cutting your energy costs – wind energy is free.
• Cutting your reliance on large companies – no need to pay for their advertising!
• Becoming more self-sufficient – you can use as much or as little as you want.
• Saving the environment – you are no longer digging up the earth or the ocean floor.
• Living a sustainable lifestyle – you are only creating and using what you need.
• Being generous and sharing – you can offer/sell someone else any excess ‘free’ energy!
• Voting with your feet – you will be telling the government and larger energy companies that you no longer believe that their policies and actions are acceptable and that you would rather ‘step away’ than fund their activities.

Disadvantages:

• Not 100% energy cover – depending on your location, you may need top-ups from elsewhere.
• Costly initial expense – some wind turbines are expensive to buy or install.
• Planning permission needed – you may need to apply to your local council for permits.
• Ongoing maintenance – it won’t be expensive, but will need regular checking.
• Interested neighbors – you may find them staring at your wind turbine as they pass by, or keep asking you lots of questions about it all the time!

Join me in a few days time for my next article, which will have details on several small wind turbines that you could use in your garden or on your roof, and also some information on building your own wind turbines!

See you there.