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In episode three of World's Greenest Homes, we visit the first residential wind turbine ever approved in the U.S.. Once found exclusively in power-generating windmill farms, turbines have sprouted up across the world as part of residential structures, and are proving a viable way for homeowners to make their own power.
Here's your introduction to the new kids on the alternative energy block:
- A single rooftop turbine can lower your home's monthly electricity bill by as much as 90%.
- Many people believe that wind turbines are dangerous to birds. The truth is that this common myth is largely based on statistics related to outdated windmill designs, and has no direct relation to modern turbines.
- There are two types of turbines available in the contemporary market: Vertical-axis wind turbines, aka VAWT, and Horizontal axis wind turbines, aka HAWT. HAWTs are the most efficient power generators, but due to their size, they aren't always visually appealing additions to your property. They can also produce noticeable amounts of noise as they churn out the wattage. Although VAWTs don't produce energy as efficiently as HAWTs, they can be more affordable to maintain. VAWTS can be under four feet tall, which makes them easier to integrate into your neighborhood's visual landscape.
- Although increasing consumer demand is starting to bring prices down, wind turbines can be a stretch for some budgets. Depending on the size of your system, your turbines can pay for themselves through utility bill savings in as little as six years. If the cost of a commercially built windmill is still prohibitive, consider the DIY approach and make a large or small wind turbine from scratch.
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