Would you outfit your home with a small wind generator if it were cost effective?

I would do it in a hot second. (As long as the second was heated with solar energy.) I live on the prairie where wind is plentiful, might as well make some use of the darn stuff!

@SuperMouse You should!! I was reading about it in this month’s addition of Popular Science…Just Google “Jellyfish electric appliance”.

I am already getting some of my electric power through the wind generators used by my power company. As they increase, I get to increase my share.

Absolutely! I would stand in line! Though it alone will not remove the need for regular electrical it would be a step in the right direction. Eventually we should all be off the grid.
In lower wind areas would one use two and be able to store the energy for use on non- windy days?

@Dog They say on their website that the intended use is not for that but its possible.

If cost effective also meant affordable for me then I would definitely consider that along with solar panels and rain barrels for roof gutter run off.

Absolutely

If it was reasonably priced and a good return, I would consider it. It might be against zoning regulations here.

@FGS Awesome!

I myself think that all this is long overdue. Automobiles were unattainable to most until Ford made the assembly line and produced a car that the average man could afford. I am eager for companies to do the same with not only the next generation of “personal travel vehicles” but also for alternative energy forms.

If it were feasable to do so, I’d do it. I would have to augment my place with conventional electricity as a backup plan just in case something happened to render my wind power inoperable. Accidents happen.

considering a residential/farm unit for 10,000Kw. The installed price for tower, foundation, generator, switching, wire, installation will be more than $30,000. Even with the rumored 30% credit in the stimulus package it may not be cost effective, even considering some sort of future electric price increases. Also, the zoning and building codes are so restrictive that it may not be worth the hassle. Height restrictions, on-site location restrictions, cost of permits and informing neighbors (have to get a zoning variance and go through a hearing) The burearocrats may kill the incentive by too many restrictions.

Absolutely. If many follow it, it can help save much electricity from conventional energy sources.

You’d have to have some place windy to put it or it wouldn’t effective or cost effective.

Just sayin’

I got a 5.5 kW photovoltaics system on my roof. Where I live there’s not enough wind. Any form of renewable energies are worth pursuing. Pick the one which seems most cost efficient. In some areas geothermal has a bright future.

@hungryhungryhortence The rain barrels are an easy one..I’m installing two 55gal rain barrels to help out in watering my gardens when the dry summer hits. Won’t cost more than $50 or so and some elbow grease.

I would absolutely do it if I could afford the initial outlay. I travelled through west Texas last year and was virtually spellbound by the big wind turbines out there. We don’t a lot of wind in South Carolina, but I would love to have some solar panels because we almost always have sunshine. I have also done the rain barrels to collect rain water for my plants. That didn’t cost anything – my husband brought the big blue plastic barrels home from a job.