Why Wind Turbines are Becoming a Popular Source of Renewable Energy
Renewable energy is getting more and more popular every day, due mainly to constantly rising energy prices. More homeowners are beginning to install green energy gadgets to create free electricity. Wind turbines for the home are beginning to emerge as the one of the most popular options, due to their ability to be installed anywhere, their simplicity, and fairly low cost of installation. Should you be trying to decide between installing solar panels or wind turbines in your home, here are some things to ponder.
Solar Panels vs. Wind Turbines for the Home
First, solar cells only generate electricity during the day and only when the sun is out. This can be especially an issue in the winter, when there are fewer hours of daylight. The bad thing about this of course, is that energy consumption is usually higher in the winter, particularly with electric central heating. In other words, solar panels provide the least amount of electricity at the time of year when you need it the most.
On the hand, wind turbines can operate day and night, day in and day out, all year long with the right weather conditions, of course. Winds also tend to be stronger and more constant in the winter. So wind turbines will produce more energy during the time of year when you need it most.
Geography
Just as there are certain parts of the United States where solar panels are more effective like the Southwest, there are also places when they are less effective. The Pacific Northwest is famous for its cloud cover and rain on a daily basis. Another consideration is elevation. If you live in a valley with hills and mountains surrounding you (such as in the Rocky Mountain states and the Appalachians of the Upper South), this reduces the hours of direct sunlight you can receive. On the other hand, valleys are usually good locations for strong, steady breezes.
The best locations to install wind turbines for the home are in the Midwest and Great Plains. Here, the flat, wide-open plains and prairies present few obstacles to block, break up, and slow down the wind. Consequently, you can get constant, strong winds for most of the year.
In addition to valleys as discussed before, mountaintops and hilltops are also good locations for wind turbines for the home. Coastlines (whether ocean or lake) are also good places to get strong, steady wind.
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Categories: Neat Products, Wind Power, wind power products, wind turbine Tags: Electricity generation, Renewable energy, wind energy, Wind Power, Wind turbine






















