So, you're thinking about getting into clean energy by building your own wind
generator, huh? Good idea. With all the news about a looming energy crisis
and global warming, lots of other people are trying to learn more about how to
be more responsible and self-sufficient. The cleanest energy available right
now is wind energy and you can build a wind generator to capture that power
for a small investment of time and money. Here are the four questions I am
asked the most by people who want to try building their own windmill.
Q: Why Should I Build a DIY Wind Generator?
A: Take a look at your electric bills by month for the last 3 years. You'll
notice that it's going up...way up! Chances are you're paying 10-20% more on
energy today than you were 3 years ago. Building a generator means you can
cut your energy bill by 30-100%. Also, as our population grows the load on the
power grid is rising too. If you live in California you've heard of rolling
blackouts because of the lack of power at peak times. Building a wind
generator is like recycling: you'll be part of the solution rather than part of
the problem.
Q: How Much Energy Will I Be Able To Make?
A: This depends on your energy demand and location. Windy areas can make
as much as 10kw of energy. Calm areas can produce in the range of 2-4kw.
The typical American home uses 30kwh of electricity a day. That means you
could make all the power you need with 3 wind generators running 24 hours a
day. It depends on what percentage of your electricity you want to replace.
Q: How Much Will It Cost Me To Build a Wind Generator?
A: Here's the good news: about $200. You can build a fully-functioning wind
generator from spare parts and cheap equipment found around town and online.
You don't need to spend the $5,000 on the ultra-deluxe model from the wind
energy pros. If you can screw together some pieces of metal and mount a pole
in the ground, you can save big. This is also good news when it comes to the
payback period. Your windmill will pay for itself in the first year.
Q: How Do I Learn How To Build a Wind Generator?
A: The best way, and the one I eventually went with after a couple of
failures, was an online ebook that a lot of other people had used successfully
to build wind generators at their homes. You could also check out a book at
the library, though these can be several years out of date. Another good
resource is to find friends who have built their own and ask if you can pick
their brain. For my money, $30 on an ebook to learn how to save $30 a month
on my energy bill makes a ton of sense.
David Hindman used the Earth4Energy guide to build his first electric wind
generator. If you found this article to be of interest, learn more about that
product and how to build a wind generator for your home, including pictures
and videos of working units. Visit his web page on how to make your own
windmill generator at http://www.squidoo.com/electricwindmill
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Hindman
generator, huh? Good idea. With all the news about a looming energy crisis
and global warming, lots of other people are trying to learn more about how to
be more responsible and self-sufficient. The cleanest energy available right
now is wind energy and you can build a wind generator to capture that power
for a small investment of time and money. Here are the four questions I am
asked the most by people who want to try building their own windmill.
Q: Why Should I Build a DIY Wind Generator?
A: Take a look at your electric bills by month for the last 3 years. You'll
notice that it's going up...way up! Chances are you're paying 10-20% more on
energy today than you were 3 years ago. Building a generator means you can
cut your energy bill by 30-100%. Also, as our population grows the load on the
power grid is rising too. If you live in California you've heard of rolling
blackouts because of the lack of power at peak times. Building a wind
generator is like recycling: you'll be part of the solution rather than part of
the problem.
Q: How Much Energy Will I Be Able To Make?
A: This depends on your energy demand and location. Windy areas can make
as much as 10kw of energy. Calm areas can produce in the range of 2-4kw.
The typical American home uses 30kwh of electricity a day. That means you
could make all the power you need with 3 wind generators running 24 hours a
day. It depends on what percentage of your electricity you want to replace.
Q: How Much Will It Cost Me To Build a Wind Generator?
A: Here's the good news: about $200. You can build a fully-functioning wind
generator from spare parts and cheap equipment found around town and online.
You don't need to spend the $5,000 on the ultra-deluxe model from the wind
energy pros. If you can screw together some pieces of metal and mount a pole
in the ground, you can save big. This is also good news when it comes to the
payback period. Your windmill will pay for itself in the first year.
Q: How Do I Learn How To Build a Wind Generator?
A: The best way, and the one I eventually went with after a couple of
failures, was an online ebook that a lot of other people had used successfully
to build wind generators at their homes. You could also check out a book at
the library, though these can be several years out of date. Another good
resource is to find friends who have built their own and ask if you can pick
their brain. For my money, $30 on an ebook to learn how to save $30 a month
on my energy bill makes a ton of sense.
David Hindman used the Earth4Energy guide to build his first electric wind
generator. If you found this article to be of interest, learn more about that
product and how to build a wind generator for your home, including pictures
and videos of working units. Visit his web page on how to make your own
windmill generator at http://www.squidoo.com/electricwindmill
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Hindman
| New format eliminates botched November issues! |
| The Fixit Press |
| Volume 01 Issue 02 |
| MONTHLY NEWSLETTER |
| December, 2008 |
The Teacher's Corner
The next time you are in need of contractor services, try
asking the following questions, instead of the ones that
everyone asks:
* Why is your price so much more than your competition's?
* Will you be doing the job, or using sub contractors?
* Will the job be complete, or will I have to hire someone to
finish the drywall, etc?
* How much will you discount this bid if I do x,y,z before you
get here, or after you finish?
Asking these questions lets your contractor know you have a
clue and will be difficult to take advantage of. Lastly, never,
ever give more than 50% down, and always get and keep the
receipt.
asking the following questions, instead of the ones that
everyone asks:
* Why is your price so much more than your competition's?
* Will you be doing the job, or using sub contractors?
* Will the job be complete, or will I have to hire someone to
finish the drywall, etc?
* How much will you discount this bid if I do x,y,z before you
get here, or after you finish?
Asking these questions lets your contractor know you have a
clue and will be difficult to take advantage of. Lastly, never,
ever give more than 50% down, and always get and keep the
receipt.
Monthly How-To Tip
Here we are at Winter already. Cold weather means frozen
pipes. One simple trick can prevent huge repair bills and the
major inconvenience of being without water. On nights when you
know it will be cold enough to freeze your exposed pipes, simply
leave a faucet in your home running at a trickle. It is much
harder to freeze moving water.
If you live in extremely cold areas, electrical heat tape with a
thermostatic control is far less expensive than plumbing repairs.
Install the tape on the bottom side of pipes, then install pipe
insulation over it, and wrap the insulation with foil tape. That
way, the tape will only come on if the pipe gets too cold, not
just the air.
Noah
pipes. One simple trick can prevent huge repair bills and the
major inconvenience of being without water. On nights when you
know it will be cold enough to freeze your exposed pipes, simply
leave a faucet in your home running at a trickle. It is much
harder to freeze moving water.
If you live in extremely cold areas, electrical heat tape with a
thermostatic control is far less expensive than plumbing repairs.
Install the tape on the bottom side of pipes, then install pipe
insulation over it, and wrap the insulation with foil tape. That
way, the tape will only come on if the pipe gets too cold, not
just the air.
Noah
Contributed Article
'Tis the Season
The perfect gift for the holiday season is tools.
One of my wife's favorite gifts was the cordless
drill her dad gave her one year for Christmas!
She uses her Makita all the time. Of course
she also loves emeralds, but what can you say to
that?
If the person you're buying for already has
tools and you aren't sure what to give, a gift
certificate from Northern Tool is a great idea.
One of my wife's favorite gifts was the cordless
drill her dad gave her one year for Christmas!
She uses her Makita all the time. Of course
she also loves emeralds, but what can you say to
that?
If the person you're buying for already has
tools and you aren't sure what to give, a gift
certificate from Northern Tool is a great idea.
| Check out the screamin' holiday specials and their whole line of reconditioned power tools |
| Stop paying contractors! Learn the skills you need to fix it or build it yourself and keep your hard earned money! |
| Everything you need to know about making your own solar panels and windmills so you can stop paying the power company! |
| Learn to build your own amazing back yard fish ponds. |
