I am stepping into a life long journey of Natural Living. I will take my family along for the ride and take as many notes as I can. I know I won't always get it right, I know I will just have to keep trying. If my stumbles can aid one person into a natural life, that will be the frosting on my cake. The cake will be a healthier family for me.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Would You Consider Installing a Wind Turbine in Your Backyard?
If I can talk my hubby into something like this, you may just see one in my yard some day. I wouldn't mind being paid back for extra energy. you would?
I don't want to sound like a downer but I'm not sure it's worth it!
We put up a 35 ft. wind turbine with a 3 phase inlet, meaning that when our house is not using power, we are selling it back to the Rural Electric Co (REC) at the same price they sell to us. Payback for this turbine was estimated to be 4 years. Sounds great, right?
First there was alot of red tape to get this project going, visits to the County Board of Supervisors, paperwork, permits etc... and more paperwork with the REC. We live in the country so you'd think it would be easy. It took at least 4 months! The turbine was very expensive. The $4,000 tax credit helped but unfortunately is no longer available.
We're guessing we save $200 or more in electricity each month but there is NO WAY to tell. (our house is 4800 sq ft. and uses ONLY electricity) Our bill is confusing and unreadable! I think they want to keep you in the dark. (no pun intended!)
I've heard the neighbors complain of high electric bills but ours seems to stay the same, so that's good. But, if there is a power outage, the turbine shuts off too!!! The REC doesn't want their linemen getting electrocuted by power from my turbine running back, so part of the agreement is that they cut our power until it gets running again. I think the best way to go is geothermal heat/cooling.... but you pretty much have to put that in when building a house. Just thought I'd throw in my 2 cents!
I don't want to sound like a downer but I'm not sure it's worth it!
ReplyDeleteWe put up a 35 ft. wind turbine with a 3 phase inlet, meaning that when our house is not using power, we are selling it back to the Rural Electric Co (REC) at the same price they sell to us. Payback for this turbine was estimated to be 4 years. Sounds great, right?
First there was alot of red tape to get this project going, visits to the County Board of Supervisors, paperwork, permits etc... and more paperwork with the REC. We live in the country so you'd think it would be easy. It took at least 4 months!
The turbine was very expensive. The $4,000 tax credit helped but unfortunately is no longer available.
We're guessing we save $200 or more in electricity each month but there is NO WAY to tell. (our house is 4800 sq ft. and uses ONLY electricity) Our bill is confusing and unreadable! I think they want to keep you in the dark. (no pun intended!)
I've heard the neighbors complain of high electric bills but ours seems to stay the same, so that's good.
But, if there is a power outage, the turbine shuts off too!!! The REC doesn't want their linemen getting electrocuted by power from my turbine running back, so part of the agreement is that they cut our power until it gets running again.
I think the best way to go is geothermal heat/cooling.... but you pretty much have to put that in when building a house.
Just thought I'd throw in my 2 cents!