What would make you decide to or not to buy a wind turbine system for your home?

Question

for generating electricity. If you say cost, please indicate what price you WOULD be willing to pay.

thanks

Answer 1

The cost is not the factor, it's the return on my investment.  If it takes more than 5 years to realize the savings, I don't bother.  Solar panels have a ROI of over 15 years.  I may not be in the house to realize the savings.

Answer 2

I'd get one because it's free energy that nobody can turn off and it will pay for itself, eventually.

Answer 3

I built my own for under $25 dollars out of common materials.

You don't have to be Einstein to do it, just simple everyday tools and an alternator from a car.

Buying one is not practical for most people, as it cost so darn much.

Mine produces 500 KWH per day on a 5+ mile perhour wind.  Pretty wicked huh?

Doesn't sound like much, but ifyou have a battery bank, it will provide enough electric for the entire house.  You can even hook up a solar panel for extra charge.

Answer 4

current reasons against - space for the installation is the biggest reason, with local building codes being second.  We also expect to  move in the next year or so.  

We DO plan to have a small acreage at the new place, and put up a wind turbine  within the first year there.

Answer 5

I have heard that the cost of enough solar panels to run a house could be recovered in about 40 years.

Personally I think that is unacceptable.  

I would buy a wind turbine if the cost could be recover in no more than 10 years, WITH the turbine have at least a 20 year warranty.

Answer 6

I'm much more likely to install solar panels because here in the Southeast, our winds are just not reliable to turn a turbine.  I've heard that you can retrofit your roof with durable solar panels in place of shingles and you can make money from the electric company, since on a good day, your meter can actually turn backwards - uploading power onto the grid!  How cool would that be to get a check from the power company?

On another note: The company I work for builds large-scale wind farms, mainly in the Midwest, and it's really cool to see these things go up!

Answer 7

I don't own a home.  That's really my only reason.  Today the wind is blowing 25mph with gusts of 35mph.  We rarely have winds under 10mph.

Answer 8

I'd be all for it but the HOA here would have a cow.

Answer 9

Well I know for myself and alot of friends that it was the confusion surrounding the whole "which one, how big, where to install it, how to install it", etc etc etc. There is alot of thought and planning involved. So make sure you find yourself an expert who knows what they are doing, can answer all your questions properly, and who has some good references. That will go along way in getting a good system in place that will properly take care of your energy needs.

Answer 10

why buy a wind turbine system, when you can get plans to build your own from mother earth news?

Answer 11

I would purchase one if it produced more than just electricty.