How to Buy a Wind Turbine for Home Use

Wind energy is clean, emission-free and an economical alternative to solar panels. Consequently, people are turning to residential wind turbines as a way to get off the electrical grid, help the environment and save on energy costs. According to the American Wind Energy Association, contractor installed home wind turbines can range in price from $6,000 to $22,000. Be sure you have all the information you need before you buy
How to Buy a Wind Turbine for Home Use

1. Assess your home and lot size to determine whether or not a residential wind turbine is right for your situation. Unless you install a very small home wind turbine with a rotor size of a meter (about 3 feet) or less in diameter, you should have at minimum a one-acre lot as recommended by the American Wind Energy Association.Also consider that the tower can be up to 120 feet tall and the tower base can take up a fair amount of room. Refer to the specific wind turbine spec sheet for space requirements.

2. Calculate your average annual electricity consumption and its cost. The U.S. Energy Information Administration notes on its website: "In 2008, the average annual electricity consumption for a U.S. residential utility customer was 11,040 kWh, an average of 920 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per month." If your monthly energy consumption is in the same neighborhood as the noted average, the home wind turbine you choose must be rated between eight to 20 kilowatts to help meet this demand and be cost effective.Furthermore, as the power output of wind technology is dependent on the wind, your location should have, at minimum, an average wind speed of 10 mph.

3. Educate yourself on wind technology jargon.Horizontal Axes Wind Turbine (HAWT). The rotor blades on the wind turbine look like an airplane propeller. Horizontal is usually the optimal angle to gather wind force. The blades are generally mounted on a tall tower.Vertical Axes Wind Turbine (VAWT). As the name suggests, the blades are in a vertical position. This type of wind technology works well when wind from several directions is being captured.Peak Power. The highest amount of electricity generated at the highest wind speed.Power Curve. A graph that illustrates the rate of energy production at different wind speeds. According to the article "Wind Power Curves, What's Wrong, What's Better," by Ian Woofenden, "Good performance at low wind speeds is most important in a wind turbine, since that is where it will spend most of its time."

4. Comparison shop. Don't be taken in with cheap wind turbines and assume all wind systems are the same. Compare manufacturer warranties, how long they've been in business and how well their wind turbines are rated. A residential wind turbine system is a long-term investment. Be sure you're getting your money's worth in product longevity, energy output and efficiency.