The accumulation of greenhouse gasses is causing the earth to warm, reducing the size of ice deposits in the Arctic, Antartica, and Greenland. this has aready caused severe problems for small Pacific Island nations and threatens costal areas all over the world. The reduction of CO2 emissions is critical and needs to start with the production of electricity.

The Advantages of Green Energy seem obvious:

- Green energy is clean and can slow the effects of global warming by reducing CO2 emissions.

- Green energy is renewable unlike the natural gas and coal that are our primary sources now.
 
- It requires less maintenance that conventional equipment. Although the initial investment may be high, the long term savings would be significant.
 
- It can provide economic benefits to certain areas. For example, the leasing of land for wind farms could provide economic relief to many rural areas.

There are a few disadvantages that critics can point to.

- we have no control over the weather. The wind must blow and the sun must shine to use wind and solar technologies.

- The type of green energy used is to some degree determined by the geographic location, particularly for energies such as hydrothermal or geothermal.

- Some have even objected on aesthetic grounds, objecting to the site of a wind farm off shore.

It seems to me that the benefits far outweigh the disadvantages.

According to the Dept of Energy, if we increase the percentage of electricity produced by wind to 20% by 2030, we can reduce CO2 emissions of the electric sector by 25%. This is equivalent to taking an estimated 140 million vehicles off of the road.

We don’t really have a choice. If we don’t take action now, there will be a time when it will be too late.

Making your home more energy efficient should come first before any alternative energy source. Making a home more energy efficient is much less costly than switching energy sources. That being said, using a renewable resource to power a home with virtually no impact to the environment, benefits all of us in the long run.

Whether purchasing, or building, a wind turbine, or windmill, for your home is a good choice depends on a number of factors, the chief one being your geographic location. Typically, if you live in an area where average wind speeds are 10 mph or more, you can use wind as an alternative energy source. You can easily find wind maps on the internet that will show you the average wind speed in your area. In the US for instance, wind speeds are higher in the midwest and along coast lines. Wind speeds in the southeast won’t typically support electricity generation by wind with the exception of some areas in the mountains and along the coast.

Wind resources in an area can vary significantly due to terrain and elevation. Another source of information is your local airport. Be sure to ask at what altitude measurements are taken. In general wind speeds will increase with elevation. You might consider building a tower that is at a higher elevation than where your local airport takes its measurements. Also, check with the Federal Aviation Administration to find out whether or not you need to apply for a permit. If you are near the flight path of a nearby airport additional precautions may need to be taken.

You also want to consider tax refund or rebate programs, grants, and personal or property tax advantages. Many states offer tax breaks for alternative energy efforts, as well as net-metering and buy down programs.  You should also investigate any zoning restrictions in your area. Height, safety and aesthetics may be an issue. You also will likely have to have a building permit. Check with your local building inspector or a local green builder for guidance in these areas. Dealing with some of these issues, you could pave the way for others interested in alternative energy in your area.

The typical home uses approximately 800 – 2000 kWh (kiloWatt hours) of energy per month. This can be supplied by a 4 – 10 kWh system. The higher the kWh for the system the higher the initial investment, but the faster the return on investment. You want to make sure that your wind turbine will rise above any current or future constructions that could block the wind. In general, you want your turbine to be approximately 10 feet above any obstacle within about 300 feet.

Given the right conditions, a wind energy system can supply a surplus that can then be sold to the electric company. You may be required to enter into a contract arrangement with the electric company. There may be compatibility issues that have to be worked out to ensure the safety of residents and utility workers. Again standards and policies will vary from state to state. If you choose to do-it-yourself, I would recommend working closely with a local certified electrician to ensure compatibility and to make negotiations go more smoothly. 

Wind energy can significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the atmosphere. Although it may take quite a bit of initial effort, the advantage to the environment is clear. And a well constructed wind turbine for the home can provide savings well into the future for a family.

Additional information for residents of the United States can be found at the following sites:
http://www.irecusa.org (Interstate Renewable Energy Council)
http://www.dsireusa.org (Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy)
http://www.rredc.nrel.gov/wind/pubs/atlas/ (Wind Resource Atlas of the United States)

Switch to LED lights.  Ever burned your finger on a light bulb? Thats because only about 10% of the energy used by a regular incandescent bulb goes into generating light. The other 90% produces heat. LED lights use 85% less energy than regular incandescent bulbs. They also last up to 100 times longer, and even 10 times longer than Compact Fluorescent bulbs.  At the very least switch to fluorescents. 

Shade your windows in the summer. This can be done with awnings, sunshades, a deciduous tree, or a pergola with a deciduous vine covering it.  (I’m thinking it might be the perfect use for that annoying wisteria I can’t seem to get rid of.)  Lined draperies in sunny windows allow you to use the suns energy to heat when you want it or to shut it out when you don’t.

Replace old appliances with new energy saving models. If your appliances are very old the savings on electric bills alone with repay you for the expense in a few months. If you need to have an old one repaired – Don’t do it. Buy a new energy efficient model instead. And don’t forget to recycle the old one responsibly.

If you have a digital thermostat, program it to raise and lower the temperature automatically based on the season. If you use central heat and air, be sure to clean or replace your filters every 4 months. 

Try to do without your central heat and air for a few months a year. Depending on where you live this can be very pleasant. I live in North Carolina in the US. I can usually get away without heat and air conditioning in April into May and again in late September through most of October.  Having the house open keeps things fresher as well. 

Consider a tankless hot water heater. According to the US Department of Energy, if you use less than 41 gallons of hot water a day, a tankless system can be 24 to 34% more efficient than a water heater with a tank.

Supplement, or replace, your electric system with an alternative source of electricity. This can be solar or wind, determined by the location and climate of your home. You can also install solar hot water heating systems.  These can be expensive, but over the long run the savings will be worth it.  You can also do-it-yourself.  See the other pages on this blog for information on do-it-yourself guides.   This can be a relatively inexpensive way to go as well as a fun family project.