Green Products Takes A Look At the Next Generation Of Windmills
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by: MichaelEdwards | Total views: 66 | Word Count: 379
Green Products has found that one of the "emerging" technologies that has finally stabilized and become reliable is windmills or wind power. I say "reliable" because the early developmental windmills had a great many problems and were not ready for mass production. In fact, some of the early designs were maintenance headaches.
Today's designs are lighter, stronger and more reliable than in the last 20 years. Most of the leading manufacturers are offering a five-year manufacturer's warranty. Most state the turbine will last 20+ years with normal service.
The concept has been refined with a device called a net meter. The net meter takes a combination of inputs -- one set from the power company and the other from your windmill. When the electricity is combined at the meter this will determine which way the meter will rotate.
The net meter is designed to rotate in either direction. When it rotates clockwise, you are storing electricity for future use. When the meter is rotating counter-clockwise, you are being charged for electricity. If at the end of your billing cycle you have put more in reserve than you used, you won't be billed for that month. Now that would be nice!
What are your risks? Generally just 2. The first is cash outlay - and the time it will take to pay off your initial purchase price before you see any savings, or as accountants like to call it, your Return on Investment (ROI). The other area of risk is mechanical failure. Just like any mechanical device, the better you maintain it the longer it will last.
One of the nice offsets is the rebates and tax credits you will get for installing a unit. In some cases, $11,000 or more is paid to you to offset the cost of the windmill. In California, this could bring the cost of install down to around 4,600 dollars.
Before you jump in and get your feet wet, check with the local contractor that will be doing the install. He will do a site evaluation to determine if the unit can be installed and whether it falls within your city's code standards and guidelines.
In our next article from Green Products, let's see what it would take to get completely off the electrical grid. Is it possible?
Michael
About the Author
Amazingly Michael Edwards is really concerned about our kids future, You can see more here at go green
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