6 ways to save money with wind energy at home

While solar energy has become the most popular type of alternative energy in today’s homes, it’s not the only choice. There’s also wind energy. Besides helping to save the planet’s energy sources, it can also help to save you money. Here are some of the top ways that it can do that…

Large Wind Turbines

You might be pleasantly surprised at how basic a wind turbine can be. The main parts include a rotor, an alternator, and a support. Wind turbines for homes can also include other parts, including an inverter for DC-AC current, and perhaps a battery. While installing a wind turbine at your home will include an initial cost, within time it can pay for itself.

That’s based on various factors. One of the most significant ones is how much power the turbine produces. When comparing different wind turbines on the market, you’ll likely read about something called a “power rating.” If you do, buyer beware!

Unfortunately, manufacturers sometimes use the term to give an inaccurate figure about how much power a wind turbine can produce. Instead, you should focus on the diameter of the turbine’s rotor. The rotor is located directly behind the turbine’s blades. Wind turbines for homes tend to have a diameter of approximately 100 feet, although larger models typically have a diameter of 500 feet.

Do-It-Yourself Can Save a Small Fortune

A way that you can save more money is by installing the wind turbine yourself. It can be quite easy if you have the right tools and instructions. By installing the wind turbine yourself, the wind turbine will pay for itself faster. However, there are some important factors to consider. One is the size of the wind turbine. Another important factor is the structure of the wind turbine, since some types are more complex than others are.

What does it all mean? Do some research before choosing a particular wind turbine, since it might be a more challenging Do It Yourself (DIY) project than you initially thought. This isn’t to say that you shouldn’t not consider installing the wind turbine yourself. However, consider some important factors. How much free time do you have? Have you completed many DIY projects in the past? Do you have the right tools and general know-how to install a wind turbine? These are all important considerations when determining whether you should install a wind turbine at your home, or allow a professional to handle it.

Low-Maintenance Turbines Translate into Lower Costs

Besides the initial cost of a residential wind turbine, another important issue to consider is the amount of maintenance it requires. High maintenance models can result in high maintenance costs. Such costs can significantly reduce the overall cost-effectiveness of the wind turbine. The good news is that most of today’s wind turbines for homes have few moving parts.

Since there are few parts that move, the fewer parts that require maintenance result in lower operating costs. That’s a good thing. However, wind turbines still require a moderate amount of maintenance, and that’s related to whichever model you have in your home. It might also require some repairs from time-to-time, which are typically the result of inclement weather.

However, keep in mind the words of the Dutch scholar Desiderius Erasmus, “Prevention is better than cure.” He probably wasn’t thinking about wind turbines. That said, the source of alternative energy certainly applies. When homeowners are able to see and hear malfunctions that their wind turbine is experiencing, they can then take immediately steps to optimize the turbine’s operating. Typically that involves basic maintenance or repairs. The bottom line is that relatively low operating costs of a wind turbine is another way that they can save you money.

Governments Can Give You Credit by Giving Tax Credits

What does using a wind turbine at your home have to do with taxes? Due to the eminent energy crisis around the world, governments have determined that installing a wind turbine can benefit not only the users, but also the country itself. For that reason, local and national governments often provide tax credits to help offset the initial costs of installing wind turbines. For instance, the USA’s federal government provides a tax credit that covers nearly one-third of a residential wind turbines installation cost.

This can help your wind turbine to pay for itself sooner rather than later. It’s crucial to do some research about precisely which tax credits you can enjoy by installing a wind turbine in your home. By also choosing an inexpensive, efficient, and low-maintenance wind turbine you’ll be able to maximize the savings that the unit can provide your household.

Complete the Ultimate Do-It-Yourself Project

Besides installing a commercial wind turbine, another way you can save money is by building your own turbine. In fact, you can build a small one for as low as $200 USD. How about commercial wind turbines? They can easily cost 100 times that cost, or $20,000 USD. Yes, building your own wind turbine will require more time and effort. However, it’s certainly worthwhile when you consider the incredible savings that you can enjoy. In fact, you might be surprised at how easy building your own wind turbine can be. Various step-by-step guides on the Internet provide information about easy it is to build a DIY wind turbine for your home.

Consider the Opportunity Costs of Not Using Wind Turbines

Besides the money that you can save by using wind turbines, you should also consider the opportunity costs of not using wind turbines. Such costs will be significantly higher if you live in a moderate-to-high amount of wind. Besides simply enjoy the wind, you can use it to produce energy that’s clean and efficient.

[Photo: johnnyalive/flickr]

About this Guest Author: Mirsad is the editor of Alternative Energy Geek, a site where you’ll learn more about the various alternative energy sources available and how they can benefit you.