In the future, all of our energy will come from renewable sources. With traditional gas and energy costs skyrocketing, it is apparent that we need to find new ways to make energy production which are sustainable. We need to change our thought process about how we use the Earth and begin to convert our old energy grid into something sustainable.
There are some people who have already started thinking this way. New scientific breakthroughs in renewable energy are allowing us to create sustainable energy at lower and lower costs.
Using the right set of plans even homeowners who don’t know anything about construction or electricity can build their own alternative energy sources right in their backyards, such as wind power generators.
Wind turbines can be made to reduce the average home’s electricity bill by as much as 70%. They can be built, using economical plans, for as little as $200 using pre-used parts. The most expensive part might be a DC motor which can cost as little as $30.
They can also be built with materials from a local hardware store and basic tools. An easy way to estimate how much power your wind generator can create:
Power(Watts) = (Wind Speed)^3 * (Blade Diameter)^2 * 0.00478
The speed of the wind makes the most difference because its value is cubed, then the blade diameter because its value is squared. Example calculation using a decent wind speed of 10mph and an 8 ft blade diameter:
W = (10*10*10) * (8*8) * 0.00478 = 305 watts/hour – x 24 hours and you can calculate 7.3 kWh generated per day by a wind power generator.
If you have an average home, you probably use about 12-20 kWh of power every day. Even if you don’t have great wind speed in your area, an initial investment of about $200 to build a wind turbine is small compared to the savings you will get in free electricity for your house. Wind power generators are very good investments, indeed.
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