Switching over to wind energy grants numerous benefits. However, there are many things one should consider before determining which wind turbine is the most appropriate for his needs. Ideally, one could buy a wind turbine system which can be set up and would require very little maintenance for a long period of time.
The next 8 issues must be considered:
1. Power requirements: first and foremost, you must determine what are your power requirements. Some homes simply do not require a lot of energy while others do. This clearly affects the type of wind turbine you would be interested in.
2. Average wind speed: clearly, since wind turbines utilize the kinetic energy of the wind, the less windy the area they are placed in, the less effective it would be. A person who lives in an area with very little wind probably should not consider buying a wind turbine. Information about wind speeds for all US regions can be found online.
3. Quality: since purchasing a wind turbine system is a long term investment, it is crucial that the system require as little maintenance as possible. As one may imagine, inferior products would require more maintenance than superior products.
4. Manufacturer warranty: as stated, since wind turbines can be potentially used for a lifetime, it is important to pick one that has a long warranty. Furthermore, when a manufacturer offers warranty for a long period of time, it often means that it is highly confident of the quality of its product.
5. Brand name: as is always the case when purchasing a product, certain brand names are known to be good unlike product names no one has heard of. Therefore, it is a good idea to go through product reviews. These can be found on various forum sites, internet shops, and DIY websites. Of course, consulting a specialist cant hurt either and may be the best thing to do considering the investment.
6. Asking advice from people who have gone through the process: there is no one more qualified to give an opinion than someone who has only recently been in your position. Therefore, going to online forums and asking for advice from people who have purchased certain products might be a wise strategy. They would be intimately familiar with the pros and cons of the product they purchased.
7. Setup costs: setup costs are very high (up to 40%) when dealing with wind turbine systems. These include wiring as well as structural modification to your land/roof.
8. Residential usage: some wind turbines simply cannot be used in residential homes for various reasons (usually size). This should be taken into account.
In our next article, we will discuss several varieties of wind turbines that can fit your specific needs.