Welcome to Wind Energy Guide
Chicago Wind Energy Article
. For a permanent link to this article, or to bookmark it for further reading, click here.
Home Wind Energy Is A Viable Option For Some
from: As basic electric costs continue to climb, many people are seeking out ways to cut their expenses and consumption. Others, however, are exploring the potential of producing their own electricity to offset their reliance on the grid. For these people, home wind energy can provide a solution.Home wind energy involves the use of specialized devices to harvest wind power and turn it into usable electrical current. There are a few options of devices available that help homeowners augment their use of grid-based, fossil fuel-driven electrical power. They include:
• Turbine systems – This option for home wind energy uses a wind turbine to harvest wind’s kinetic energy power. This energy turns the blades on a special fan that then spins a shaft. This shaft is connected to an electrical generator that gains power from the shaft’s spinning. The end result is power produced by the generator that a homeowner can use.
• Hybrid systems – There are some hybrid systems that homeowners can take advantage of. These often include the use of both wind and solar systems to produce energy for home consumption. These systems can be particularly useful for taking advantage of two renewable sources of power. They are considered ideal in remote areas and can help take a home completely off an electrical grid.
Home wind energy does bring with it many advantages. Unfortunately, it is still often necessary in areas where it is possible to tap into the electrical grid to make sure power needs are fully met. The fact is that wind power might not always be prevalent enough to power a home 365 days a year. Still, the advantages of even offsetting electrical use are many. They include:
• Environmental impacts – Using home wind energy reduces negative environmental impacts. Rather than rely solely on fossil fuels, homeowners with their own turbines can reduce their use of damaging and nonrenewable energy sources.
• Financial savings – While it’s true installing a wind turbine to provide home wind energy will cost a pretty penny, this type of system can pay for itself over time. How much or how little savings a homeowner will realize will depend on the capacity of the turbine and its overall offset of standard electrical use.
• Potential moneymaking ability - In some areas, it is feasible for homeowners who use home wind energy systems to tap into the electrical grid in a reverse manner. In times when electricity is needed from the grid, it will be provided. When a home wind system produces more power than a home requires, that energy will flow to the electric company and result in a financial gain for the homeowner.
Home wind energy provides a way for property owners to be more self-sufficient. It also enables them to cut their financial costs related to electrical consumption. In the process, using wind power can reduce environmental impacts. For these reasons, many people are looking into using wind power to take some of the strain off the regular electrical grid.
Chicago Wind Energy News
Wind farm could harm the state's bald eagle population - News & Observer
 StandardNet | Wind farm could harm the state's bald eagle population News & Observer Still, eagle fatalities present an unforeseen challenge for Invenergy, the Chicago-based developer proposing the 49-turbine Pantego Wind Energy Facility. The project has already aroused public concern because of its potential risk to thousands of ... US Fish & Wildlife Study: Beaufort Co. Wind Farm Project Could Endanger Eagles |
Feds: Eastern NC wind farm could kill eagles - The Virginian-Pilot
Feds: Eastern NC wind farm could kill eagles The Virginian-Pilot The wind farm has been proposed near the Pocosin Lakes Wildlife Refuge. Bald eagles are attracted to the area by fish breeding ponds, hog carcass disposals and other readily available food sources. Invenergy of Chicago has proposed putting 49-turbines ... |
Clean Energy Transmission Line To Be Opened Up To Wind Energy Developers - North American Windpower
Clean Energy Transmission Line To Be Opened Up To Wind Energy Developers North American Windpower The Rock Island Clean Line is a 500-mile, overhead, high-voltage direct-current transmission line that will run from northwestern Iowa to an area near Chicago. The project will deliver 3.5 GW of the best wind energy resources in Iowa, Nebraska, ... |
Feds: Eastern NC wind farm could kill eagles - The Daily Advance
Feds: Eastern NC wind farm could kill eagles The Daily Advance The wind farm has been proposed near the Pocosin Lakes Wildlife Refuge. Bald eagles are attracted to the area by fish breeding ponds, hog carcass disposals and other readily available food sources. Invenergy of Chicago has proposed putting 49-turbines ... |
Chicago ideal for renewable energies, international experts say - Medill Reports: Chicago
 Medill Reports: Chicago | Chicago ideal for renewable energies, international experts say Medill Reports: Chicago by Michael Ahene Chicago is an ideal location for wind turbines and solar energy plants, according to international energy experts who converged Tuesday at Northwestern University. Experts at the Global Landscape for Cleantech and Climate Change ... |