Wind Power
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Wind Power - Owners of New England homes and businesses on hilltops or near the shore can reduce electricity costs with wind turbines.
Wind turbines harness wind, a local and inexhaustible resource, to produce electricity. "Small wind" energy systems consist of a wind turbine, a tower, and associated electronics which produce not more than 100 kW and which are primarily intended to reduce on-site consumption of utility power.
Affordable: Initial installation costs may be reduced by tax incentives, rebates and income as well as savings on your electric bill. Wind energy costs are fixed whereas the cost of conventionally produced electricity will fluctuate with fuel prices. As fuel prices rise your rate of return on investment will increase and payback period will shorten.
Environmental impact: Wind energy does not contribute to global warming, acid rain or air pollution. Wind turbines create a small amount of noise, but turbines produced in the last few years are much quieter than earlier models. Normally, the noise is only audible when standing near the tower.
Evaluate your Energy requirements: Review your electric bills or calculate the energy demands for all appliances and equipment in current use.
Evaluate wind resource: The main engineering factor to consider in siting a wind turbine is the quality of the wind. Wind is usually quite good near the ocean shore or out in the ocean. Onshore, the best wind is found on hilltops, and it is considerably stronger and steadier as elevation above trees and buildings increases. Before a wind turbine is installed, qualified installers will usually assess your site for suitability often measuring the wind for a period of time. This assessment will let you know what the performance and cost savings are likely to be.
Select system & components: Match your energy needs and wind evaluation to the wind turbine size needed followed by tower, inverter, and batteries if needed.
For more information visit: http://www.eere.energy.gov/RE/wind.html
