The wind systems connect into the household circuit breaker panel and are easily retrofitted to existing homes and the way they function. There are about 12 to 15 certified small wind turbines certified for residential applications, said Bergey. “Over the last several years I have seen people getting ripped off frequently with overnight wind turbine installations,” Porterfield said. Complaints may surface from neighbors because of noise annoyance and the homeowner often sees unsatisfying results from the turbine. In these cases, the alternative energy is not optimized or able to be used in the manner it’s intended.
#HOME WIND TURBINES MICHIGAN INSTALL#
There are a few wind companies out there, in it to make money only, that will install a turbine anyhow. If a small wind company is experienced and ethical and someone calls requesting a small wind turbine in an unsuitable area (an area of land under two acres or a low wind resource area), the company will advise against it. These calculations might mean that before the turbine use, a house could have an electric bill of $150 to $300 a month. He recommends the two acres in order to eliminate possible annoyance felt by neighbors if they were to feel intruded upon in any way.Īt a suitable wind resource site, a turbine would provide the energy for a 2,500 square foot all-electric home. Neighbor to neighbor interactions can be dicey if there’s concern, Bergey said. Michigan ranks about 16th in number of utility-scale (larger sized turbines most commonly seen on wind farms) wind turbines, according to the American Wind Energy Association.Īs the 18th best wind resource in the United States, wind power in Michigan is capable of meeting more than 1.6 times the state’s current electricity needs, estimated the American Wind Energy Association. Small wind systems can also qualify for a 30 percent federal tax credit, making the investment more affordable. The electricity the wind system produces after the recoup will be essentially free, detailed Bergey Wind Power’s website. The major question surrounding wind power as an alternative energy source is whether or not the investment is worth it.Ī small wind system has potential to recoup its investment through utility savings within 6-30 years. “Small wind turbines up to about 15 kW, which translates to a router diameter of about 30 feet maximum, can be and are being used to substantially reduce and eliminate electric bills for homes,” said Mike Bergey, president of the Distributed Wind Energy Association (DWEA) board and president of Bergey Wind Power.īefore investing in a wind turbine, the Michigan Department of Energy suggests to cut down on normal utility costs in the home, to see if a homeowner would benefit more realistically from conserving energy as opposed to investing in a wind turbine immediately. On the other hand, alternative energy options are seen as investments and the cost of start up deters a number of interested homeowners. Wind turbines don’t produce pollution like other energy sources, which generates much appeal from those interested in alternative energy for primarily environmental sake. Bergey Wind Power, the world’s leading supplier of residential wind turbines for 35 years, recommends at least two acres of land to fully optimize energy potential. Homes that occupy one acre of property or more are considered candidates for residential wind turbines. Wind power as an alternative energy source is a relatively new industry, and as a means of a residential energy solution, it poses many questions.
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