The advantages and disadvantages of wind power as a means to satisfy some or all of your own electricity needs are somewhat out of balance. Today the positives far outweigh the negatives thanks to current technology and quality homemade windmill plans.
No longer do you have to feel like a helpless victim of the escalating cost of energy because dramatically cutting your electricity bill is finally in your control. Consider the following if you are thinking about utilizing wind generated electricity.
The Advantages of Wind Power
Reduces or even eliminates the cost of electricity Reduces dependence on power companies Excess electricity produced can be sold back to the power company at a profit Allows you to tap into the abundance of free renewable wind energy that is literally in-your-face everyday It is good for the environment because windmills produce no polluting exhaust It helps our country reduce its dependence on foreign oil Building a windmill can be a family bonding experience that can teach our next generation that everyone can have a significant impact on cutting energy costs while improving our environment The cost to operate a windmill is very low The simple design of a wind turbine means low maintenance costs – just install it and forget it. The cost to build your own windmill can be as low as $200 if you have the right windmill plans that outline where to find low cost and free sources for materials
The Disadvantages of Wind Power
It is weather dependent – no wind equals no electricity There is a dependence on the zoning rules of each community Purchasing factory built wind turbine systems can be costly and require 8 or more years to pay back the initial investment.
The solution for inconsistent wind is often solved by storing the windmill generated electricity in a battery bank. This combined with a hybrid system that also uses solar panels and has access to power off the grid will insure a continuous stream of power.
Recently it has become possible to reduce the high initial cost of owning a home windmill to about $200 with a payback in just a few weeks to a few months. The secret to this dramatic cost reduction is in learning how to build a windmill as described in a few of the best illustrated windmill plans. The really good ones are written by authors the have spent a great deal of time learning to exploit the advantages of windmill power while solving most of the disadvantages.
By: John Mackinnon
© 2010 Soft Power
