Wind Energy Voice

Get *the* Best Wind & Solar Pak, ever, Easy Earth Energy.... Let me know how you like it!

“In the nation’s pursuit of energy affordability, climate change mitigation, and energy security, energy efficiency stands out as perhaps the single most promising resource.” — Unlocking Energy Efficiency in the U.S. Economy, McKinsey and Company, September, 2009.

We couldn’t have said it better ourselves. The problem is, while both business and residential energy efficiency can be major ways to save energy, money, and the planet, it is, just, well, a little boring. RENEWABLE ENERGY gets all the attention, and to be sure, solar, wind, geothermal and tidal power are all exciting ways to save energy, prospects that in the long run will reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and unstable foreign power.

But long before these technologies reach a price point that is appealing to most Americans, we can harness the power of improving business and residential energy efficiency to take small, sustainable steps towards a healthier planet, which is why we’ve come up with five simple and inexpensive ways to save energy and money by using less electricity around the home and office.

Five Ways to Save Energy

1) Your PC likes breaks too — Ok, quick! Put your computer to sleep (cue the Jeopardy theme). If it took you more than three seconds, you’re working too hard. One of the easiest ways to save energy is with an ecobutton(TM). It’s ridiculously easy to use, impossible to ignore on your desk, and its software reports your dollar and CO2 savings every time you use it, which feeds your green conscience.

2) Light only the page — Do you read books in bed before you go to sleep? We do. But we get all the light we need using an LED-illuminated Lightwedge(R). And we never feel guilty about our residential energy efficiency levels if we fall asleep with the Lightwedge(R) still on.

3) Slay the vampire — When you switch off your big screen TV, you’re not getting the big picture. Because we are an impatient society, our electronic devices use energy even when turned off, just on the chance you might show up. This standby, aka “vampire” power, is nearly equal to the amount the device sucks while in use. Get a smart strip to improve residential energy efficiency and stop Dracula in his tracks.

4) Dim your lamps — We’re cheating a little. Using less light is more about conservation than residential energy efficiency, but there are times when less is okay. Not many stand-alone lamps have dimmer switches, one of the best ways to save energy. We’ve got an app for that however — a lamp-friendly dimmer. And for an energy-efficient alternative to an incandescent, consider a fully compatible, dimmable, energy saving bulb.

5) Greenlight your world — There is a direct relationship between enthusiasm for business and residential energy efficiency and the value gained from making the effort. Consider 23-watt eco-friendly light bulbs that have it all:

flattering, warm white light 100% post-consumer waste packaging, 76% more energy efficient than an equivalent 100 watt traditional incandescent bulb, 7 year guarantee, and 10 month pay back if turned on just two hours per day (1).

High Hopes for the Future of Business and Residential Energy Efficiency

We have high hopes for renewable energy and are following every development when it comes to ways to save energy. But for now, because the cheapest, cleanest kilowatt of electricity is the one that’s never used in the first place, we think McKinsey & Company is on to something.

We hope our simple business and residential energy efficiency ideas for living more lightly will inspire you to take action and to dream up your own to help save the only planet we’ll ever call home.

Works Cited

1. Based on a national average retail electricity price of 11.47 cents per kilowatt hour. Source: Energy Information Administration.

Technorati Tags: Before, Dessert, efficiency, energy, Five, Indulging, Powered, save, solar, Vegetables, Ways

Like any major home modification, the decision to install a home wind generator is not a matter to be taken lightly. There are pros and cons to weigh, specifically in reference to where you live and there is preparation to be done before installation begins. In the interests of simplifying the process, we present to you here a summary of how to go about making this important decision.

How Much Wind Power is Available Where I Live?

If you happen to live in North- or South Dakota, then it should come as no surprise to you that you should have no problem powering all the homes you want via wind power; North Dakota alone has enough wind to power over forty percent of all US energy needs as of 2002!  On the other hand, if you live in the Deep South, than wind power doesnít look like such a winning proposition. If you are uncertain, it may be wise to check a wind map before you embark on this journey.

If you live in a particularly hilly or mountainous area, additional wind measurements may be needed to ensure that the wind is not blocked where you live, otherwise such measurements would generally not be worth the cost.

How Much Power Will I Need?

A typical American home consumes an average of slightly more than one kilowatt of power, however a significantly larger wind turbine than a 1 kW model would be required to meet the demands of such a home, depending on the wind available to you, because of the uneven availability of winds fast enough to generate this much power. The American Wind Energy Association advises that a typical American homeowner should choose a wind turbine rated at between 5 and 15 kilowatts.  

How Much Will a Home Wind Generator Cost?

Home wind generators are a large investment:  a good setup will incur a substantial initial cost, but bring significant savings over the years it operates. A small home-sized wind turbine may cost between $6,000 and $22,000 to purchase and install depending on the model and service agreements made with the manufacturer. Once operational, home wind generators can shave anywhere from fifty to ninety percent off your electric bill, recouping the initial investment in as little as six years under optimal conditions. In northern areas where little air-conditioning is required, wind turbines can result in a very small electric bill indeed!  

Connecting to the Utility Grid

You will need to connect to the utility grid, in order to provide power when your wind turbine is not producing enough power to run your entire home. However, you also will have the opportunity to sell power to your electric utility when you are producing more power than your home needs at that time; the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 requires public utilities to accept power from small (less than 80 MW) wind energy providers. Your electric utility should be able to advise you on how to go about connecting your wind generator to the grid.

The basic wiring of your home will not need to be changed; however, professional electricians from your electric utility will be needed to connect your generator to the power grid through your electric meter.

A tower of 80 to 120 feet will be provided with the generator kit, in the case of traditional horizontal-axis wind turbines.

Conclusions

Though wind power can be a great investment to the right homeowner, factors including availability of wind and your power needs will determine just how good an investment it is to you. These resources are provided to you so that you may make this determination more readily; if you decide that wind power is for you, care should be taken to find the best (legitimate) deal in wind power available to you.

Technorati Tags: Before, Consider, Generator, Home, wind