As discussed in our wind energy article, switching over to wind energy grants numerous benefits. However, there are many things one should consider before determining which wind turbine is the most appropriate for his needs. Ideally, one could buy a wind turbine system which can be set up and would require very little maintenance for a long period of time.
There following are attributes that need to be considered:
Power requirements: it is important to evaluate your house’s power requirements. Generally speaking, the bigger the blades, the greater the power they generate. While smaller turbines require less space (and may be more appropriate for people with less land to use), they are not as efficient as the larger ones and also require constant maintenance. If you live in a small place and have modest energy requirements, getting a large wind turbine – even if it is a good option in other respects – may not be ideal for you.
Average wind speeds in your area: the power that a wind turbine can potentially generate directly depends on wind speeds in the area it will be placed in. Before buying a wind turbine, go to the US Department of Energy’s website and look for the ‘Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’ section which provides information on wind availability for various regions of the country. If you reside in an area with weak winds, then a wind turbine may not be suitable for your needs.
Quality: Since wind turbines can potentially be used for a long, long time, it is essential that the one that is picked requires as little repair and maintenance as possible. Thus, getting a high quality product may be expensive in the short term but not in the long term.
Manufacturer warranty: as stated, since wind turbines can be potentially used for a lifetime, it is important to pick one that has a long warranty. Furthermore, when a manufacturer offers warranty for a long period of time, it often means that it is highly confident of the quality of its product.
Brand name: as is always the case when purchasing a product, certain brand names are known to be good unlike product names no one has heard of. Therefore, it is a good idea to go through product reviews. These can be found on various forum sites, internet shops, and DIY websites. Of course, consulting a specialist can’t hurt either and may be the best thing to do considering the investment.
Advice from people who have gone through the process: nothing beats experience, and so asking the advice of people who have installed or used wind turbines can be invaluable. Forum websites can enable you to contact people whom have gone through the process. Even the best products may have issues, and no one would be more qualified to give an advice than a person who has tried to use a product – for better or worse.
Setup costs: these include wiring, structural modification to your land or roof and other fittings. This normally uses up to 10-40% of the budget, so clearly is an important consideration.
Residential usage: some wind turbines are simply too big for usage in individuals’ homes. Naturally you should only consider those that can actually be used.
In our next article, we will survey various types of wind turbines and who may benefit the most from them.
(1) GoGreenSolar website: despite the name (GoGreenSolar), this store has several Wind Turbines as well. Moreover, the store will help connect you with renewable energy professionals in your area, and help you get started with green energy.
(2) Alt Energy Store: this store has a wide variety of Wind Turbines as well as detailed information on which one might be the best for you.
(3) Amazon has several Wind Turbines and related items in its stock. including:
Many books advise people on how to benefit from wind energy, for example, by building wind turbines. Here is a list of those we feel are relevant and useful. As you may notice, the level of technical capability that is required to benefit from the books greatly varies: some are targeted towards the novice, others are targeted towards those who have already mastered the art of wind turbine construction.
Whether we want to admit or even think about it, air pollution is a real problem, one that continues to affect our environment and our lives each and every day. Although people who live in rural areas can easily forget that such a problem exists (as they do not see smog and factories on a daily basis) or remember its causes (fewer cars on the roads), air pollution is a very real issue that affects everybody. At times we simply can’t ignore air pollution. For example, when driving past a factory pumping smoke clouds high into the sky, or when standing in a traffic jam smelling the exhaust of the car in front of us, it is hard not to imagine what damage it is doing to our body.
What is air pollution?
Air pollution consists of various types of chemicals and gases being passed into our atmosphere. The main cause of this unwanted pollution is vehicles. Second to to that are industrial factories that release dirty and dangerous fumes into the atmosphere.
Why is air pollution dangerous?
Health reasons: air pollution has been linked to numerous types of illnesses such as strokes, heart issues and breathing problems.
Global warming: air pollution is responsible for global warming. This phenomena leads to the gradual but persistent increase of the temperature of our planet. It has already started affecting entire ecosystems, and unless it is stopped, it will melt the polar ice caps which will raise sea levels. This will cause flooding in coastal cities such as New York and London.
Ozone layer: air pollution causes the ozone layer to shrink, thus, reducing its ability to shield us from ultraviolet radiation. This not only causes skin cancer, but also damages wildlife and plants.
Acid rain: certain pollutants can cause rain to turn to acid rain. This has a great impact on animals, fish and plants that are soaked in it. Acid rain can also affect the ground, making the soil toxic to many animals and plants.
How can we fight air pollution?
One way would be to use Hybrid vehicles. These vehicles produce about a fourth of the pollution of the average vehicle. Just imagine the global effects if everyone started driving such vehicles.
Using green energy, such as wind power, solar power, hydro electricity, geothermal power and biomass energy, rather than using fossil fuels for energy, would also have a large impact on air pollution.
Since this problem seems to only get worse in time, and we may reach the point where we damage the environment irrevorcably, the only logical solution is that everybody embrace ways that reduce air pollution in the hope that it will eventually, some day, be eliminated. Perhaps the only way this can be achieved is through education: although most people are familiar with air pollution and how it occurs, and are generally aware of its effects, many would rather turn their heads the other way rather than deal with this ever growing problem. The only way to truly overcome this problem is to start with the young: if we, collectively, can get our descendants to permanently change their ways by learning from our mistakes, then perhaps there is still hope for our planet – and ourselves.
It’s possible to take going green to the next level. By finding a green job of starting a green business, a person can not only make a decent living, but also help make the world a better place. Generally speaking, renewable energy careers are where the world is going. The following is a list books that can help one make the transition:
tags: Green job, Green Business, Solar energy, Wind energy, Biofuels, Geothermal energy, Hydro energy, Green building
One great way that we are able to reduce the negative effects of reliance on fossil fuel, is through wind energy. This is a renewable and constantly available source of energy. And several ways have been created to convert this resource in to usable energy without polluting our surroundings.
Wind is created when the cold and warm air mix close to the earth’s surface. We can take this wind energy and convert it through the use of wind turbines. These machines create mechanical energy by capturing the vigorous force of the wind and converting through the turbine. The mechanical energy is then used to run a generator that is able to produce electricity. The entire process is a clean, non polluting, way to take an readily available resource and transfiguring it into a usable source of electricity.
The advantages of this resource and the ability to convert it into a useful energy for the common people and world are extensive. Wind energy can change the way things have been done for years. We have long used limited fossil fuels and continue to pay dearly for this “privilege”, as can be seen at the gas pumps. Not only is this an expensive proposition, it will come to an end one day, and if we have no other option, it will leave us with a major problem. Wind is a widely found resource that is constantly renewable as long as the sun comes up each day. It is also comparably inexpensive and its conversion does not emit toxic gases.
On an individual basis, we can make sure our homes are running as efficiently as possible through proper fitting, double paned windows, proper insulation and upgrading your heating and air conditioning units. Then if one desires, there is the option of owning your own small wind energy system. You will see a decrease in your monthly electric bill of 50% – 90% by installing one of these systems. There are some concerns that must be researched, however, prior to purchasing one of these systems. Do you have enough wind in your area to run one, are tall towers allowed in your neighborhood and will you be in your home long enough to reap the benefits? If you answer yes to all of the above, this maybe a green option for you.
There is a great number of eBooks that advise people on how to benefit from solar energy. I give the top 5 (in my opinion) products.
(1) Earth 4 Energy – Renewable Energy Solutions – Wind And Solar Power ($49.97): This eBook provides a manual and several easy to follow videos that will teach you how to start generating your own electricity for less than $200! It will literally help you save thousands of dollars on your power bill. Also includes 8 weeks of Money Back Guarantee (so no risk involved).
(2) Green DIY energy – Solar & Wind DIY Guides ($49.97): provides a guide that walks you step-by-step on how to utilize Solar energy by building solar panels (according to the website, even complete beginners would be able to follow these steps). Also includes 60 days of Money Back Guarantee.
(3) Energy 2 Green – Wind And Solar Power System ($49.99): provides a manual that walks you step-by-step on how to create electricity using Solar Power or Wind Turbines (the website claims it’s so simple even a kid could follow the instructions). Also includes 60 days of Money Back Guarantee.
(4) Free Energy Options – Wind & Solar Power – Renewable Energy ($48.95): provides a step-by-step manual that claims to eliminate one’s electric bill completely by utilizing wind and solar power. The product website states that zero technical skills are required. Also includes 8 Week Money Back Guarantee.
(5) DIY Power System ($97.00): provides a complete Do-It-Yourself affordable program that enables one to create his or her homemade Wind or Solar Electricity Generators, hand made batteries and bio-diesel (that could run a vehicle). Also includes 60 day Money Back Guarantee.
