PDF《Small Wind Electric Systems》

s turbines are versatile modular sources of electricity. Their blades are aero- dynamically designed to capture the maximum energy from the wind. The wind turns the blades, which spin a shaft connected to a generator that makes electricity. First, How Can I Make My Home More Energy Efficient? Before choosing a wind system for your home, you should consider reducing your energy consumption by making your home or business more energy efficient. Reducing your energy consumption will signifi- cantly lower your utility bills and will reduce the size of the home-based renewable energy system you need. To achieve maximum energy effi- ciency, you should take a whole- building approach. View your home as an energy system with interrelated parts, all of which work synergisti- cally to contribute to the efficiency of the system. From the insulation in your home'

s walls to the light bulbs in its fixtures, there are many ways to make your home more efficient. ? Reduce your heating and cooling needs by up to 30% by investing just a few hundred dollars in proper insulation and weatherization products. ? Save money and increase comfort by properly maintaining and upgrading your heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems. ? Install double-paned, gas-filled windows with low-emissivity (low-e) coatings to reduce heat loss in cold climates and spectrally selective coatings to reduce heat gain in warm climates. ? Replace your lights in high-use areas with fluorescents. Replacing 25% of your lights can save about 50% of your lighting energy bill. ? When shopping for appliances, look for the Energy?Star? label. Energy?Star? appliances have been identified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy as being the most energy-efficient products in their classes. ? For more information on how to make your home energy efficient, see Energy Savers in the For More Information section. Lighting, cooking, and other appliances 33% Refrigerator 9% Heating and cooling 44% Water heating 14% 02979309m Home Energy Use Based on national averages The largest portion of a utility bill for a typical house is for heating and cooling. Small Wind Electric Systems Is Wind Energy Practical for Me? A small wind energy system can provide you with a practical and economical source of electricity if: ? your property has a good wind resource ? your home or business is located on at least one acre of land in a rural area ? your local zoning codes or covenants allow wind turbines ? your average electricity bills are $150 per month or more ? your property is in a remote location without easy access to utility lines ? you are comfortable with long-term investments. Zoning Issues Before you invest in a wind energy system, you should research poten- tial obstacles. Some jurisdictions, for example, restrict the height of the structures permitted in residentially zoned areas, although variances are often obtainable. Most zoning ordi- nances have a height limit of

35 feet. You can find out about the zoning restrictions in your area by calling the local building inspector, board of supervisors, or planning board. They can tell you if you will need to obtain a building permit and provide you with a list of requirements. In addition to zoning issues, your neighbors might object to a wind machine that blocks their view, or they might be concerned about noise. Most zoning and aesthetic concerns can be addressed by supplying objec- tive data. For example, the ambient noise level of most modern residential wind turbines is around

52 to

55 deci- bels. This means that while the sound of the wind turbine can be picked out of surrounding noise if a conscious effort is made to hear it, a residential- sized wind turbine is no noisier than your average refrigerator. In Clover Valley, Minnesota, this . 3-kW Whisper H175 turbine on a . 50-foot tower is connected to the utility grid to offset the farm'