| Green Products Wind Power: Renewable Electrical Power |
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| Environment - Environment |
| Written by Michael Edwards |
| Tuesday, 16 June 2009 09:11 |
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Green Products has found that one of the "emerging" technologies that has finally stabilized and become reliable is windmills or wind power. I say "reliable" because the early developmental windmills had a great many problems and were not ready for mass production. In fact, some of the early designs were maintenance headaches.
Green Products has found that one of the "emerging" technologies that has finally stabilized and become reliable is windmills or wind power. I say "reliable" because the early developmental windmills had a great many problems and were not ready for mass production. In fact, some of the early designs were maintenance headaches. The new generation is using some new space-age materials for the outside shell and the propellers. Newer turbine designs and better, lighter parts all contribute to this next generation. Twenty years ago, you were lucky to get any warranty. Nowadays it's not uncommon to see a five year factory warranty. The concept has been refined with a device called a net meter. The net meter takes a combination of inputs -- one set from the power company and the other from your windmill. When the electricity is combined at the meter this will determine which way the meter will rotate. The net meter is an interesting device in its own right. About 35 states use an electric meter that records usage in both directions. When rotating clockwise it records the electricity you use. When the same meter is running counter-clockwise it is reducing your electric bill. Some call it an electrical bank. It's almost like pumping water into a water tower where it is stored to be used at a later date. What are your risks? Generally just 2. The first is cash outlay - and the time it will take to pay off your initial purchase price before you see any savings, or as accountants like to call it, your Return on Investment (ROI). The other area of risk is mechanical failure. Just like any mechanical device, the better you maintain it the longer it will last. Also, remember that the federal government and local governments will help you offset the costs with energy rebates and tax incentives. With these incentives, you can sometimes reduce your total cost by half. When done right, this could easily help a farm or small business defray their electrical costs. In order to install one, your must first check to see if your have the space the unit will need. Then, will local code allow you to erect a 35-50 foot monopole? And finally, does the city have codes in place to prevent the installation (and/or prohibitive fees)? This could be a godsend for a small farm or a business in an unincorporated section of town. Let's look at getting off the electrical grid in our next Green Products article. Michael About the Author: Concerned about you environment like Michael is take a look at the other products available at Green Products Online |