Renewable Power

In these times of energy, environmental, and financial crisis, a windmill is an elegant solution for providing power with no impact on either an over stressed environment or budget. When you learn how to use wind power to live independently of the expensive and wasteful energy infrastructure, you’ll have learned how to contribute to the solution and your financial bottom line as well.

How Wind Power Works

A windmill works by converting wind energy into other kinds of energy. It uses the power of the wind to create mechanical energy, which rotates the blades, which in turn produces electrical energy. Once used as a means of pumping water and towing boats, wind power is now proving a popular method for providing electricity for both commercial and residential use. In our increasingly desperate search for alternate energy sources, a windmill is an economic option, especially on farms and in rural locations. It may be less effective in an urban area, depending on your situation, where solar power could be the optimum choice instead.

Prerequisites for Setting Up a Windmill

There are basically two prerequisites that must be kept in mind before purchasing and setting up a windmill:

• Ideally, at least one acre of land is needed. A smaller area may not allow the blades to capture enough wind power for the windmill to operate effectively.
• Average wind speed in the location should be about 11 miles per hour. Factor in any tall buildings or towers that may block the wind. Also, it’s best if the wind speed in the chosen area is fairly consistent.

Components of a Windmill

• Blades. The blades are what capture the wind power, and are usually constructed of either wood or plastic.
• Tower. This is the pillar that holds the blades high enough to be able to use the wind. They are generally made of a hard material like poly-vinyl chloride.
• Shaft. The shaft is used to join the blades to the tower in such a way as to allow them to rotate smoothly.
• Base. Not surprisingly, this is the foundation that holds up all the other components.

Where To Find Your Windmill

There are a number of good DIY windmill kits available on the market. It’s best to consult an expert to help you find the one best suited to your unique circumstances and requirements. If you prefer to choose the parts and build the windmill on your own, you’ll need to be careful to select the components correctly as any mismatch in size will render your windmill useless.

It isn’t difficult to learn how to use wind power to your advantage. With the right information and help at your fingertips, you could be seeing a significant reduction in your energy bill and have the satisfaction of knowing that you’re working with nature, instead of against her. You don’t have to make the choice between saving money or saving the earth; with homemade wind power you get to enjoy both.

Susan Livingstone knows that it’s not just possible to get inexpensive wind power to the home, it’s the smart move to make. For less than $200, no experience, and a few hours work, you can be lowering or even eliminating your power bill for good. You might even find that the power company is paying you for the excess energy you’re generating! Live off the grid. Find out more by visiting her site at http://howtowindpower.com.

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