| Power and fuel costs are rising, and many people are | | | | pay you to take them away. You will also need some |
| looking to stop depending on energy companies. Wind | | | | great engineering blueprints to get you started on |
| power generators are a source of free power and | | | | your project. |
| are becoming much more readily available. They are | | | | Some people have built their own 500 watt turbines |
| expensive to buy, but luckily there is another option. | | | | using homemade wind blades, a bought DC motor, |
| Building your own wind generator into your home is | | | | recycled TV tower and grid connector. These |
| easy. The rule of thumb is to find a place that is | | | | systems can be made for under $300 if you do it |
| about 200-300ft from another obstacle or at least 20 | | | | right, and done in less than a week. On the other |
| ft higher. In North America the average wind speed is | | | | hand, kits can be bought for several thousand dollars |
| around 9m/s, which can give you a lot of power. | | | | and ready made turbines can be bought for as much |
| Wind power is a great source of renewable energy. | | | | as $3000-$6000. |
| It is much cheaper than solar power per Watt, as a | | | | The basics of wind power generators have been |
| wind turbine can generate 1000W while a single solar | | | | around ever since the old windmills you still see at |
| panel generates around 100 in daylight. | | | | farms across the plains and prairies. Now you can find |
| Turning the turning of the blades into electrical | | | | plans on the Internet for building your own system, |
| energy is accomplished by a DC motor which uses a | | | | or buy components or kits that contain what you |
| magnet to drive current in coiled wire. You will have | | | | need to know. |
| to buy one and place it in the body of your turbine - | | | | If you have a bit of land or a rooftop to place it on, |
| they cost only 50-100$ or so. | | | | some PVC, a DC motor and something to make a |
| You will also need to buy a tower, or improvise one. | | | | tower out of, you can put together a wind power |
| Recycling towers is a good idea - people that have | | | | generator with basic tools quite easily. |
| old TV towers they don't use any more may actually | | | | |