The state and federal government bodies are recently beginning to concede to public pressure to provide funding for development of renewable energy sources, and the prospect of using wind energy conversion technology to provide electricity and heating sources on a residential level is becoming closer to reality. While the wind itself is obviously free, the current cost to convert the energy produced by the wind to usable energy on the existing utility grid is prohibitive.

While the total capacity of wind farm energy production worldwide is 100,000 megawatts, the United States is leading in advancement and implementation of this technology and currently supplies over 18,300 megawatts of energy from it’s various small scale windfarms, including the Horse Hollow Wind Energy Center of Texas which is home to the world’s largest wind farm. The level of energy output produced from U.S. windfarms is currently adequate to service 5 million households with electricity. The American Wind Energy Association was formed in 1974 as the national trade association for the wind energy industry in the U.S., and is the leading body in providing wind energy research in an advisory capacity to the industry.

Among the distinct advantages of wind energy is that it’s conversion to usable electricity requires no chemical processes and therefore there are no bi-products are environmentally contaminating pollutants.

While there must be adequate and continual wind speeds to assure consistent energy output of turbine fields, obviously, wind is an unending source of energy. The equipment required, though, must take into consideration that consistent wind speeds are at elevated levels, therefore wind turbines must be very tall and require specialized equipment for their construction. Conversely, the extreme height required for adequate wind turbine generation makes it ideal for use in farmlands, where grazing animals, or crops can be planted around the turbine supports. Many wind farms are superimposed over existing farmland that supplies crop bi-products to the alternative liquid fuel industry. In addition, windfarms can be built off shore, therefore reducing even more of the landscape environmental impact.

As we consider the environmental impact of our energy choices and methods to convert and distribute forms of “clean” energy, it must also be understood that solar energy has an advantage over wind energy in that the wind turbines produce a considerable amount of noise. Also noted is the impact the wind turbine fields have on certain people who react negatively to the pulsation in the air waves created by the turbines and the visual impact to natural landscape with the implementation of wind turbine farms.

As solar and wind energy seem to be running neck in neck for the position of most widely used source of renewable alternative energy, it seems that the federal government is bracing to lend it’s support to the advancement of mass wind turbine farms. The economic impact of this development could mean renewed financial stature to many of the citizens of the United States as fabrication, construction and maintenance of the turbine fields will require a new industry of workers to support it.

A relatively new concept in alternative and renewable energy production is the use of wave farm technology, that is, harnessing the energy produced by oceanic waves and converting it to electricity. Currently, the United States has no commercial wave farms, but the largest national utility and many additional public utility companies are actively investing in wave energy technology, and recently enacted California state laws requiring public utility companies to acquire 20 percent of their electricity from renewable energy sources by the year 2010 will assure that this trend to developing more responsible sources of energy will continue.

Wave energy, known as hydroelectric power, is a truly renewable form of energy in that the water used in the production of the electricity can be reused. While the dams required for containment of the oceanic flows are very expensive and require cooperation between large corporations, research facilities and governmental entities to finance and build, as long as there is a sufficiently powerful water supply available, electricity can be continuously generated. Unlike solar energy, which is contingent on the number of sunny days available in a year, the absence of air pollution to interfere with the solar cell collectors, and the negative impact of no energy collection after sunset, wave energy is not affected by any other environmental factor, therefore is a 24/7 operation, continuously.

Hydroelectric power is the most widely used form of renewable energy and over 50 percent of the total hydroelectric power produced in the United States is from power plant locations in California, Oregon and Washington. These coastal states have advanced the technology used to dam the reservoirs of water at different levels to be able to control the output of energy in relation to current demands.

Water has been used, worldwide, as a source of energy since the times of the ancient Greeks and Romans. Use of water to harness energy spans over thousands of years in various forms from ancient aquaducts to waterwheels used to produce water driven electricity to power various manufacturing plants in North America in the 1950’s.

One potential negative impact of hydroelectric power technology is in the direct relation to aquatic habitat. Considerations must be made in effort to prevent disruption of spawning patterns and natural chemical flows for the reproductive efforts of aquatic life. In most cases, problems arising from introduction of new devices to an established waterway are seldom able to be foreseen, and must be addressed once the dilemma has presented itself. As more dams and water energy producing systems are introduced, producers and installers will have the benefit of prior installation issues to aid in preventing future problems.

As research and development continues to progress regarding the use of wave energy technology the U.S. will find itself poised to be the frontrunning source worldwide in the distribution of harnessed water energy. As the U.S. terrirtories are large in geography, and contain many oceanic borders, including Hawaii and the Virgin Islands, the potential for becoming a worldwide supplier of a natural energy source which produces no pollutants or chemical bi-products is a lucrative position to be in.

As we strive to deflect the United States’ dependence on foreign oil sources for energy, the question begins to arise as to whether there is truly an energy source which is completely renewable. A renewable energy source is defined as one that is continually naturally replenished, and the first forms of this energy that come to mind are typically solar and wind energy. As technology develops in both of these fields the fact remains that there are costly modifications to be made in the industries currently supplying our energy. Whether these be modifications of existing systems to coordinate with new energy sources, or construction of entirely new systems to harness and distribute the alternative energy sources, the cost considerations must include the potential longevity of the energy source.

For example, we consider the sun to be a permanent source of energy, and indeed it is for all practical purposes. The question of it’s usability becomes an issue when considering the climate changes that are occurring all over the world. While it seems that the greenhouse effect may actually work in favor of solar energy harnessing, we must also consider increases in air pollution, which disrupt the collection of solar energy, as well as the patterns of intense rain and snow which make solar cells inoperable until weather conditions are cooperative.

The use of wind energy is the fastest growing industry in renewable energy sources, and can also be dramatically altered by the effects of weather and the greenhouse effect. If the wind direction changes, how efficient will the fields of wind turbines continue to be? Will constant changes in wind shear cause the components of the turbines to age prematurely? Is it possible for the wind and weather patterns to change so abruptly that the wind farms will be rendered useless? Can we predict the life expectancy of these machines and plan ahead for the possibility of forced relocation? Of course, these are all questions which should be addressed in the planning phases of staging wind turbine farm locations.

As scientific research technology is beginning to focus more on wave energy harnessing, again we must consider the shift in weather patterns due to global warming, and the effect it may have on the oceanic levels and the directions of the currents. While the ecological impact of current redirections could be detrimental, a compounded issue with loss of energy resources would be devastating. Dramatic rises and drops in water levels due to polar ice cap depletions could result in entire reservoir dams being under water.

The questions seem extremist and paranoid, but considering the dramatic shift in weather patterns in the last thirty years, it seems evident that the climate can rapidly change. In planning for a future where the nation is independent from foreign oil and relies on domestic sources of alternative and renewable energy sources we must prepare for the contingency that dramatic shifts in weather may negatively impact our harvesting of what currently appears to be an unending renewable energy source.

As discussions and concentrated efforts continue in the United States to emphasize personal efforts to recycle and conserve energy, many question the responsibility of the state and federal government bodies to convert our current dependence on foreign oil sources for energy to cleaner alternative for domestic energy. As it turns out, although we have not heard much about it until recently, the U.S. has been preparing for an energy crisis for several decades, and has funded many programs to develop renewable energy source harnessing. Now that the impact of wasteful use of energy is becoming evident, the past research can now be implemented to resolve many of the fuel shortage problems we are all experiencing.

The United States Department of Energy is a branch of the federal government which is responsible for assuring that residential and commercial consumers of utilities are provided with a continual supply of energy at reasonable cost. There is a specific budget within the Department of Energy set aside for research and development of renewable energy sources. That is, energy sources which do not deplete a finite supply of natural resources to provide usable energy. This is not a new concept. The highest budget allotted for renewable energy development was during the energy shortage of the 1980’s, under President Jimmy Carter. When President Ronald Reagan took office, he slashed the budget by 75%, and since this time, the budget has increased and decreased according to current administration principles.

Overall, the U.S. trails both Europe and Japan in research and development of alternative and renewable energy sources. Long standing developments in solar energy and wind energy harnessing and conversion to usable electricity, are now being revisited by the domestic alternative fuel industry and require the cooperation of the state and federal government to implement the technological advances on a broad scale.

One good example of the government stepping up to the plate on the issue of renewable and alternative energy development is the continued support of Clean Cities act which was enacted in 1993 and is comprised of over 90 coalitions which strive to shift the energy infrastructure of the U.S. to use of alternative fuels in its government vehicles, and low carbon print energy consumption in government buildings. To date, more than 157,000 alternative fuel vehicles have replaced gasoline driven vehicles within the Clean Cities organization, which is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Program. The programs’s ultimate goal to to shift dependence on foreign oil suppliers for domestic transportation to a domestic source that dramatically reduces or eliminates harmful emissions into the environment.

By continuous cooperation between private corporations and research organizations and systematic funding by government entities, the hopes for renewed excellence in the fields of science and development will once again push the United States into the foreground of technology. The initial steps are small, and each individual has the responsibility to impact the overall conversion to renewable energy in any way he can. Corporations hold additional responsibility, as their impact on the overall environment can be more devastating and they hold the power to influence other manufacturers and suppliers to concede to alternative fuel sources such as solar and wind energy to power their manufacturing plants.

Getting or building a wind power generator for home use is quickly becoming an attractive option for many environmentally conscious homeowners. Alternative energy sources are looking quite feasible in helping to alleviate both environmental damage and fuel shortage related to the use of fossil fuels. If we manage to develop these budding fields properly, we may eventually wean ourselves off of our reliance on coal, oil, and gas. This will not only stabilize our power generation, but also result in many benefits to the environment as we use renewable, green ways of making energy. Thus, the need for a wind power generator for home use.

These electricity generators are becoming more and more commonplace as people install more of them both on large and small scales. They are machines that can convert the natural breeze-induced mechanical movements into electricity. Thus, they only need this force of nature to produce energy, which is free, essentially unlimited or renewable, and all natural. This basic concept of harnessing the energy all around us is what lies behind any good renewable energy source.

Some background on the concept behind using a wind power generator for home use would be useful to have. Generators work by transforming physical motion, usually rotation, into electricity using strong permanent magnets. Turbines then work on the same essential principle, using natural flows to turn blades, which then produce electricity in conjunction with magnets. Both direct and alternating current may be produced by generators (for AC, the term used is usually alternator instead of generator, but the concept is basically the same). The electricity produced can then be wired to devices for immediate usage, stored in batteries, or even wired back into the power grid for other users.

Most renewable energy sources require a higher capital outlay than conventional fossil fuel power generation. This is because the technology for these new energy sources is much younger and less understood and developed than the older technologies. However, as interest in these sources continues, technological and engineering developments should make costs more manageable. In fact, at present, many systems are already being made available for residential use. This is why it is relatively easy to get your hands on a homemade windmill/turbine.

Of course, harnessing the breeze would not necessarily be efficient for every single home and location. There needs to be, first and foremost, enough available space for the turbine. The amount of space and clearance required varies from setup to setup: some can be mounted on roofs while others need freestanding towers. Remember that the strength of this force of nature would also not be constant throughout the year, meaning other sources must also be used. Getting a wind power generator for home use is still a great, green idea, however.

Tired of high electric bills? Discover how thousands of families are using homemade wind power systems to power their homes!