If you’re looking for alternatives to the electricity you draw from your city’s grid, many different methods are available to you. One source of energy that’s growing in popularity is the use of wind turbines to produce electricity. People are using wind energy to varying degrees to meet their power needs, and here are a few examples.
Go Fully Off-Grid
This is an attractive option, but it may not be feasible if you live within the city limits. You’ll be required to have at least one large wind turbine that stands at 80 to 140 feet tall. In addition to the practical concerns of fitting it on your property and getting around the interference that surrounding structures might cause, you may not be able to get approval from the city’s zoning board. However, if you can get permission and get around other challenges, wind energy can help you get completely off the city’s grid.
Supplement Other Sources
The ideal situation is to draw power from multiple renewable energy sources since you can’t trust there will always be high winds to supply your energy needs. For instance, combining wind energy with solar energy can give you enough power to live off the grid still. You may have to alternate your use of these systems, depending on the weather in your area. If you live someplace with harsh winters, you may still need to rely on traditional utilities for part of the year.
Save Energy to Batteries
Whether you use wind power alone or combine it with solar energy, you should have some way of storing power for use in the evenings or on rainy days. Typically, this is done with a bank of batteries that can store energy generated by wind turbines or solar panels. On days with little wind, you can draw power from the batteries instead of from the wind turbines directly.
How you use wind energy is up to you, but it is an excellent way to either replace or supplement your primary power source. You can use it occasionally or regularly. It will help your home become more eco-friendly, and it will help you save on your household utility bills.