Go Greener Tips

Rooftop wind turbines provide a comparatively cheap method to participate in the frenzy to renewable energy. The principle allure is low installation cost. Typically, tower installations for larger turbines add 50-80% to the cost of the system. With a rooftop turbine, an $800 tower is replaced by a $39 roof mounted tripod, or a length of pipe attached to the facet of the house.

According to Ron Stimmel of the Yank Wind Energy Association, “…rooftop turbines still account for only one percent or therefore of the ten,000 small wind turbines that are sold each year in the country.” Because of this, few performance statistics are on the market from actual owners.

It’s potential, however, to get an plan of the estimated power output of a rooftop turbine from the manufacturer’s website. As an example, the Energy Performance chart for Southwest Wind power’s 200W Air Breeze predicts 20-thirty kWh (kilowatt hours) per month from 10-twelve mph winds occurring vi hours per day.

To put this in perspective, 30 kWh is less than 5% of the ability consumed each month by the common household. Overall, the payback from one, roof mounted turbine in tangible money terms leaves a ton to be desired; particularly in lightweight of the fact that not like solar, there’s no Federal tax credit for residential wind power.

But anyone considering installing a rooftop turbine(s) is most likely alert to this already. The rooftop wind enthusiast is not motivated by financial relief, however rather the intangible rewards of pride of possession, walking the walk, or straightforward satisfaction as a hobbyist.

Motivation aside, it doesn’t build sense on any level to proceed with a wind powered project unless the three following needs are met:

1. Above average cost per kWh. The more you pay per kWh for electricity, the more economical wind power becomes. A guideline in the wind turbine trade states a residential wind powered system should not be thought-about unless you pay $0.ten or more per kWh for electricity.

The simplest approach to see your value per kWh is divide the present monthly balance on your electric bill by kWh usage (additionally plainly stated on your bill).

2. Building codes. Visit your building department to seek out out if there are any zoning restrictions for roof top turbines. Do not build your rooftop system 1st and ask questions later – solely to be told it violates zoning laws and must come back down.

3. Minimum wind speed. Wind speed of seven mph, or three m/s (meters per second) is the start up speed for simply regarding each wind turbine. But, so as to induce any “juice” out of the turbine, minimum wind speeds of 10-twelve mph for six hours per day are necessary.

Though wind speed charts for the United States and Canada are obtainable to assist website larger turbines, they are of little use for rooftop systems as a result of the data is collected at a minimum altitude of thirty meters (98.four feet).

However, you can get a smart plan of the wind speed at proposed turbine locations by getting an anemometer (wind speed meter) for around $150. The kit comes with a rooftop sensor, sixty’ of cable and mounting hardware for the browse out display. These aren’t knowledge logging meters, therefore you may have to keep notes on your observations.

If you are very serious regarding wind speed knowledge collection, you’ll purchase a information logging anemometer kit with tracking software for $400.

Depending on where you reside, wind speeds typically fluctuate with the seasons. Readings taken throughout the hot summer months of July and August, when you are begging for a breeze, don’t seem to be typically a reliable indicator of average yearly wind speed.

Additionally, rooftop turbines located at the edge of a long flat roof expertise abundant a lot of wind than those located on roof peaks.

If, after a month or 2 of collecting knowledge you determine there just is not enough wind for a rooftop wind turbine, you’ll perpetually resell the anemometer and turn your attention towards solar.

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