Domestic Wind Power and Alternative Home Energy Solutions

Many people are now trying to get on top of volatile energy prices by generating their own electricity. By doing so, they not only save money but are also safeguarded against power outages and dependence on the traditional grid system supply of electricity. Just how much money can be saved generating your own power? Many people have reported savings of up to 80% on their electricity bills each month. If you want to save more, just construct more wind generators.

Some also switch to non-traditional means of electricity supply to bring about a cleaner environment. Generating power through renewable energy sources like the sun and the wind is cleaner and cannot be depleted unlike generating electricity from fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas.

But so far, the cost of generating electricity through solar and wind power has been too high for the average consumer. A basic installation of a solar panel or wind generator can set you back by about $10,000.

Learn more about Alternative home energy solutions

However, these days there has been an increase in many DIY guides on how to build solar and wind generators that have hit the market. You can build your own wind generator for as low as $200. This has brought about an increase in the number of people turning to alternative energy generating methods.

Domestic wind generators are particularly popular. This is because a wind generator is not a very complex machine. All it takes is a little guidance and anyone with time and patience can do it.

If you choose to utilize the wind to generate your electricity, you first need to find out if your area is windy enough to work a wind generator. An average wind speed of 10 mph is generally taken as the minimum to make the effort of constructing a wind generator worth your while. You can find out about the average wind speed in your area by referring to a wind map. Try this one if you're living in the US:

Alternatively, you could just google the term, "average wind speed" and you will get some helpful charts.

Assuming you live in a conducive area for wind power generation, you should consider building your own wind generator. The basic components are:

1. Wind generator blades (you need 3)

2. A motor that can be used as a generator to generate electricity.

3. A body or frame to hold the motor and turn the blades into the direction of the wind.

4. A tower to mount the generator on to catch the highest wind speeds.

5. A battery (or batteries) to store the electricity generated.

6. An inverter to convert the DC to AC electricity and power your home appliances.

It is possible to buy these components or make some of them yourself and then assemble them. Using the DIY guides, you can make your own wind generator. Start by making a small unit with a blade size of not more than 3 feet in diameter and an appropriate sized battery. This can power one or two of your home appliances like your cooker, toaster or juice blender. When you have saved enough money off your electricity bill, you can upgrade your generator or build a new and more powerful one.