Going Green At Home: Why Use Wind Energy Equipment?
Buying wind energy equipment is a great way to go green in the home. According to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), “Over its life, a small residential wind turbine can offset approximately1.2 tons of air pollutants and 200 tons of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide and other gases which cause climate change).”
Climate change is the theory that the world is growing warmer because of carbon emissions produced by burning fossil fuels. The layer of carbon gases functions like the glass walls of the greenhouse, holding the sun’s heat in the atmosphere and making the planet hotter. The greenhouse effect is linked with the melting of polar icecaps, which leads to the rise of the world’s seas and oceans. Climate change has also brought other changes to the environment, including destroying biodiversity in polar habitats and changing the life cycle of warmer seas and oceans.
Wind Turbine Systems Explained
A homeowner can purchase a simple wind system to go green in the home. A wind system includes two or three blades mounted on a tower that rises more than 80 feet above the ground. The shaft (or the tower) of the wind system connects to an electric generator. When the wind turns the blades of the turbine, the kinetic energy, or energy of motion, is converted by the electric generator into electricity. Small wind systems can also supply energy to the local electric company’s network for use by other consumers.
Wind manufacturers make two types of wind turbines—the vertical-axis turbine and the horizontal-axis turbine. The vertical-axis turbine resembles an eggbeater. This model offers the advantage of not having to be positioned toward or away from the wind. The horizontal-axis turbine resembles a pinwheel because the blades are positioned in a perpendicular fashion to the horizontal axis on the wind tower (Schlager et al).
Although wind technology is a safe and clean energy source, there are advantages and disadvantages to wind power equipment. Here is a brief discussion of advantages and disadvantages of wind energy.
Advantages of Wind Energy
1. The wind turbine system designed for residential use benefits nature because no harmful byproducts enter the environment. When homeowners convert to small wind systems, they reduce their carbon footprint because they are not consuming as much electricity from the local power plant.
2. Wind energy is free. Homeowners must buy wind equipment, but no one charges them for the free wind that blows through the air over their homes. Wind systems are ideal for homes that have enough open space to accommodate the tall tower described above.
Disadvantages of Wind Energy
1. One of the problems with implementing wind power technologies is that wind is abundant, but not in steady supply. In other words, wind currents do not provide continuous energy to electrical generators attached to wind turbines. That is why wind turbine systems for the home collect energy during windy conditions and store the energy for later use by the consumer.
2. According to the AWEA, buying wind technology is not cheap. “Small wind energy systems cost from $3,000 to $5,000 for every kilowatt of generating capacity, or about $40,000 for a 10-kw installed system. This is much cheaper than solar systems, but the payback period can still be lengthy.” Investing in wind technology makes the most sense for people who will be homeowners for a long period of time.
Prospective homeowners can research the possibility of buying wind energy for their home as part of their home financing. Present homeowners can consider equity lines of credit and second mortgages for financing wind technology acquisition. The U.S. Department of Energy also offers the federal income tax credit for the one-time purchase of wind energy equipment. Consumers should consider wind energy as a viable alternative to burning fossil fuels and increasing global warming through the greenhouse effect.
Climate change is the theory that the world is growing warmer because of carbon emissions produced by burning fossil fuels. The layer of carbon gases functions like the glass walls of the greenhouse, holding the sun’s heat in the atmosphere and making the planet hotter. The greenhouse effect is linked with the melting of polar icecaps, which leads to the rise of the world’s seas and oceans. Climate change has also brought other changes to the environment, including destroying biodiversity in polar habitats and changing the life cycle of warmer seas and oceans.
Wind Turbine Systems Explained
A homeowner can purchase a simple wind system to go green in the home. A wind system includes two or three blades mounted on a tower that rises more than 80 feet above the ground. The shaft (or the tower) of the wind system connects to an electric generator. When the wind turns the blades of the turbine, the kinetic energy, or energy of motion, is converted by the electric generator into electricity. Small wind systems can also supply energy to the local electric company’s network for use by other consumers.
Wind manufacturers make two types of wind turbines—the vertical-axis turbine and the horizontal-axis turbine. The vertical-axis turbine resembles an eggbeater. This model offers the advantage of not having to be positioned toward or away from the wind. The horizontal-axis turbine resembles a pinwheel because the blades are positioned in a perpendicular fashion to the horizontal axis on the wind tower (Schlager et al).
Although wind technology is a safe and clean energy source, there are advantages and disadvantages to wind power equipment. Here is a brief discussion of advantages and disadvantages of wind energy.
Advantages of Wind Energy
1. The wind turbine system designed for residential use benefits nature because no harmful byproducts enter the environment. When homeowners convert to small wind systems, they reduce their carbon footprint because they are not consuming as much electricity from the local power plant.
2. Wind energy is free. Homeowners must buy wind equipment, but no one charges them for the free wind that blows through the air over their homes. Wind systems are ideal for homes that have enough open space to accommodate the tall tower described above.
Disadvantages of Wind Energy
1. One of the problems with implementing wind power technologies is that wind is abundant, but not in steady supply. In other words, wind currents do not provide continuous energy to electrical generators attached to wind turbines. That is why wind turbine systems for the home collect energy during windy conditions and store the energy for later use by the consumer.
2. According to the AWEA, buying wind technology is not cheap. “Small wind energy systems cost from $3,000 to $5,000 for every kilowatt of generating capacity, or about $40,000 for a 10-kw installed system. This is much cheaper than solar systems, but the payback period can still be lengthy.” Investing in wind technology makes the most sense for people who will be homeowners for a long period of time.
Prospective homeowners can research the possibility of buying wind energy for their home as part of their home financing. Present homeowners can consider equity lines of credit and second mortgages for financing wind technology acquisition. The U.S. Department of Energy also offers the federal income tax credit for the one-time purchase of wind energy equipment. Consumers should consider wind energy as a viable alternative to burning fossil fuels and increasing global warming through the greenhouse effect.
Start Going Green At Home Now!
