Rooftop Wind Turbines
From San Francisco to New York City, rooftop wind turbines are
hitting the home front. Rooftop wind turbines are being installed
on both homes and businesses at an unprecedented rate due to several
factors including the desire to save electricity, cut down owns
dependency upon fossil fuels and as a visible symbol that one
is doing their part to go green.
Rooftop wind turbine critics say that they simply don't work
or don't work as well as advertised. The critics are right in
some instances and that is why the consumer needs to know what
they are getting into and what to watch out for before investing
in a rooftop wind turbine.
Some of the factors that will influence the output of the rooftop
wind turbine include the design itself (horizontal or vertical
axis), the kilowatt rating of the generator, where the rooftop
wind turbine is placed, the angle or pitch of the roof, how much
wind the region provides and any obstructions that may block the
wind.
The design of the rooftop wind turbine is important for several
reasons. Aesthetics is one of the larger reasons homeowners today
would want to put a renewable energy generator atop their houses.
Also, rooftop wind generators can be a status symbol that one
is doing one's part to help the environment, create jobs for others
and lower bills in these tough economic times.
Some wind turbines make more noise than others. The biggest complaint
about a series of rooftop wind turbines placed at the Logan International
Airport in Boston has been from an office worker below that says
they make too much noise.
As I've stated in other sections of this website, celebrities
like Jay Leno and Ed Begley, Jr. have decided to place rooftop
wind turbines on their homes and garages. In both cases vertical
axis magnetic wind turbines
were chosen to fill the bill.
Some homeowners state that vertical
axis wind turbines in general are a little quieter than their
horizontal axis
counterparts. Rooftop wind turbines generally come with a kilowatt
(kW) rating such as 5 kW, 10 kW or 20 kW that reflects how much
electricity one can expect it to generate for one's home or business.
It is important to either have a large enough rooftop wind generator
or several that add up to enough in order to provide the needed
power.
Some rooftop wind turbines will work more favorably when on the
edge of a rooftop, such as one that is long and flat (sort of
like being on the edge of a cliff with an updraft). Others, however,
on roofs with more angle or pitch will work more favorably in
a higher location. Finding the right spot on the rooftop can add
5 to 40-percent more efficiency in electricity generation.
One of the most obvious points is for home and business owners
in rather windless areas to not buy rooftop wind turbines but
rather opt for other alternative energy resources. Wind maps may
help some determine if there is enough regional wind to justify
the purchase of building of a rooftop wind turbine. Buying an
inexpensive anemometer and tracking results is also helpful before
making a decision.
A less obvious issue when deciding on putting up a rooftop wind
generator may be any obstructions current or future that could
block the full wind from getting to the generator. Trees, other
buildings, hillsides or even large vehicles can deflect the wind
away from the turbine. If the rooftop is inside a city filled
with buildings the wind path can become quite tricky as it may
bounce from one structure to the next causing turbulence and an
inconsistent flow.
Near homes, neighbors' trees grow and leaf out, people may put
up a second story or business may build structure in close proximity
to homes which all may impact rooftop wind turbines. The important
thing is to think about as may variables as possible when deciding
if a rooftop wind turbine makes sense and the location that fits
well.
That said, many people are now rolling back their electrical
meters using residential
wind turbines on their rooftops. Manufacturers of these turbines
are busier than ever before. With a little forethought and planning,
a rooftop wind turbine may make sense (and dollars) for homes
and businesses across the nation. So, what are you waiting for?
The time is now just like the name of this website indicates.
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