The company that specializes in plastics, partnered with Swift's Scottish designer, Renewable Devices, to install the revolutionary small wind turbine in the U.S. households.

What sets the Swift apart from other small wind turbines is the reduced noise it produces. In addition, the turbine can be attached to rooftops instead of towers.  With it's five blades and "outer diffuser" ring, the company claims vibration is reduced, resulting in only 35 decibels of noise.

With the turbine's seven foot diameter and two fins to help it face the wind, it can rotate 360 degrees and it automatically shuts down in very strong winds.  All the elements of its unique design allow the Swift to generate up to 1.5 kW of power in 14 mile per hour winds.  This equates to approximately 2000 kilowatt hours per year, which is about a quarter of the electricity consumed by a typical U.S. household.

At a cool $10 000 to be installed, this turbine does not come cheap.  However, the upfront cost is significantly lower when state tax credits of $1000 for households, and $4000 for businesses is taken into account.

According to Jessica Lehti, Cascade's senior product marketing manager, this Michigan-based plastics company has already installed 9 Swift turbines in America, and still has at least 25 orders to go.

With a customer base split between residential consumers and businesses, the company is in high hopes that it can sell the Swift to anyone with economic or environmental purposes in mind - even while the economy is in turmoil.

But we disagree with Cascade - not anyone is going to fork out $10 000 just so they can help the environment.  Furthermore, the electricity savings realized by households will only cover their investment after 12 years!

Unless people have the money, we are not sure why anyone would want to waste $10 000, when they could easily make their own small wind turbine at home. Although it would be less efficient than commercial ones, if you built enough of them, you could easily make 2000kW hours of power per year.

In fact, many people all over the U.S are making their own power systems at home, and they are showing others how to do it with step-by-step instruction manuals.  We have a list of these manuals in our reviews section if you feel the need to make your own energy at home.

To conclude, as much as we like the commercial Swift wind turbine, it is not affordable enough for average households to install. So, until technology and prices improve, we are better off making our own renewable energy solutions at home.

Tim McDonald and his wife have been living off the grid since June 2008. He recommends you Try Earth4Energy For FREE before you go out and start any home solar power project.
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Wind Turbine Generators.

Abhishek is an avid Environmentalist and he has got some great Alternative Fuel Secrets up his sleeves! Download his FREE 70 Pages Ebook, "Energy Conservation And Alternative Fuel" from his website http://www.Wonder-Homes.com/643/index.htm . Only limited Free Copies available.
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Wind Turbine Generators.

So, how does a home wind turbine make power?

A home wind turbine makes power by spinning a generator. The generator is attached to the rotor, made up of three aerodynamic blades, that is then attached to a tower. To keep the turbine facing the wind, the rotor has a tail, that acts as a weather vain.

The generator is basically an electric motor. As the coils in the motor spin past the magnets, an electric current is produced. The power produced is stored in batteries, which are connected to an inverter to change the direct current to alternating current, which can then be used to power your home. The advancement of motor efficiency, is the reason wind turbines have become so popular for home use.

Depending on your area's wind conditions, the tower can vary in length. If you live near the sea where it is windy, the tower can be shorter, but in low-wind areas the tower needs to be taller to catch as much wind possible.

Over time the blades have improved drastically as researchers developed lighter, stronger, more efficient blades, with the capability of turning even in the lightest breeze. Back in the day, wind turbines had five blades, and looked similar to windmill water pumps, but recently they have moved to three blades, taking the form of over-sized airplane rotors. Like the tower, the blades vary in size, according to your wind conditions and energy requirements.

While so far we have been explaining the typical horizontal axis wind turbine, there is another design that is starting to gain popularity for small-scale projects. It is the vertical axis wind turbine or VAWT. Very different to the standard horizontal axis turbine, the VAWT spins on a vertical axis, and almost looks like a waterwheel put on its side. Since the VAWT tends to operate low to ground, it needs far more wind to make it turn efficiently, so it is not the ideal option for homeowners or small businesses. The VAWT has also been accused by ecologists of interrupting and harming various migratory birds, making it less attractive for green enthusiasts.

Before going out and installing a wind turbine, it is best to ask yourself the following questions:

- How big is the property?

Wind turbines generally operate better in large areas that cover an acre. This is because wind flow is not deflected by any nearby buildings.

- What is the average wind speed?

The recommended wind speed should be at least eleven miles per hour, but if that isn't the case then you may have to use a taller tower and larger blades to catch higher altitude winds.

- What else can I use the wind turbine for?

If you could use the turbine for other purposes, such as pumping in water from outside, then it may be useful than you think. This is the reason you see so many windmills scattered over farms - they help pump water from reservoirs to the farmhouse.

- Does my house need a constant power supply?

This is why so many people want to get a small wind turbine in the first place - to keep the house powered during blackouts, and prevent economic losses. Although the wind turbine may not power the house all the time, it's stored power can be used in emergencies, when the utilities are just not enough.

Answering these questions will give you a good idea of how much power you need, how big the tower a blades need to be, and how much it would be worth investing to start making your own power at home.

The great thing about technology is that it is always improving. So much so that motors have become smaller, efficient and cheap enough for us to attach a few small turbines right on the roof, and produce the same power as a larger turbine on a tall tower.

Although professional home wind turbines can run into several thousands of dollars, it is possible to make your own for a tenth of the price, with components found at home and your local hardware store. Furthermore, the U.S. offers both state and federal tax credits that you can use to offset the installation cost. So not only will you reduce your electricity bill, but also your tax at the same time.

Tim McDonald and his wife have been living off the grid since June 2008. If you want to learn to make your own home wind turbine, get off the grid and save thousands on your electricity bills, then try Earth4Energy for free before you start any renewable energy project.
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Wind Turbine Generators.

For a time, renewable energy solutions and living off the grid was perceived as something inconvenient and did not coincide with the modern lifestyle that we have been accustomed to. We have abundant supply of electricity, why go through the trouble of generating on your own? This is what most people think. But the times have changed and we are now faced with the grim possibility of running out of fossil fuels-our main energy source--that will likely make the abundance of energy that we spoke of before, a thing of the past.

This is beside the fact that commercial electricity is becoming more and more expensive. Some people are just tired of catching up with their ever-increasing energy bills and so have decided to liberate themselves from it. They took the first step towards the living off the grid goal, and have found out that it's really possible if you want to achieve it.

It might seem like a big move, but it's actually a fairly simple process. You just need to look at it from an uncomplicated point of view. Using alternative energy solutions means using an alternative and renewable power sources like the sun, wind, water, biomass or magnet. The forms of energy that you can derive from these sources can be harnessed and converted in another form of energy that we can use, which is electrical energy. Now, it's easier to simplify the whole process into two simple objectives: collect (other energy forms) and convert (to electricity).

But what happens if the energy source is not available all the time, like in the case of the sun? This is what batteries are for. Excess electricity created from alternative resources is stored in batteries and is retrieved and used in the absences of direct energy source. These batteries must be maintained in order to operate at their maximum capacity. But other than that, alternative energy solutions demand almost no maintenance at all. When set up correctly, it functions almost automatically and all that you need to do is to make sure that your usage does not exceed your supply. Naturally, your system must match your electricity load to be able to completely live off the grid.

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About the Author:
If you're interested to know more about how energy power is generated and how you can conserve it--even create it--using sustainable and green alternative energy sources, check out the free energy saving tips on this site http://bestenergysave.com.
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Wind Turbine Generators.

Professional solar power systems can cost thousands to be installed and in today's economy, most of us don't have that much money to spare. With the current going-on rate for professional solar panel installations, it would take well over 10 years before owners would see the return on their investments. But man's innate resourcefulness found a solution to this problem. Today, if you want to take advantage of the power of sun without the hefty price tag, the best and most cost-effective way is to construct solar panel systems the do-it-yourself style.

Building your own solar panel may sound too complicated and technical. But surprisingly, it is not true. All you really need to seek out first is a good and detailed instruction manual. With carefully laid-out and easy-to-understand instructions, you'll find that building your own solar panel is really quite simple. And as if things are not simple and easy enough, there are several resources online that can furnish you with some of the best do-it-yourself manuals, often explaining how everything fits together to gather energy from the sun and convert it to another usable energy-electrical power.

The parts should be the least of your worries, too. You have the option to purchase a solar panel kit which will contain most of the parts that you will need to build your do-it-yourself solar panel project. Or can you check out your local hardware store where you can find most of your needed supplies that will make up your solar panels. There are also a number of specialized vendors that sell every bits and pieces of DIY home solar power systems, from the basic to the most advanced parts. Most instruction manuals, especially the complete and extensive ones, will include information about what exactly do you need and where you can get them.

If you're a novice hobbyist, you should start building small-scale solar panels first. These types of solar panels can only power small appliances. But once you get the hang of assembling the kit and developed a deeper understanding of the principles of converting solar energy to electrical energy, you can opt to put together a bigger solar power system to service a bigger share of your household electricity needs.

Make that choice to learn how to create your own solar panels and declare dependence from commercial electricity. It will not only save you money on energy consumption bills, but will have an impact on the environment as well. You'll be glad you did your part.

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About the Author:
If you're interested to know more about how energy power is generated and how you can conserve it--even create it--using sustainable and green alternative energy sources, check out the free energy saving tips on this site http://bestenergysave.com.
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Wind Turbine Generators.

Zero energy homes, extremely energy-efficient homes, and off-the-grid lifestyles have faced difficulty with the mainstream audience because, until recently, so many grid-free homes have been prohibitively expensive or aesthetically-challenged and ugly. However, Lori Ryker's book, Off The Grid: Modern Homes + Alternative Energy, foils both arguments, profiling 'ten beautiful homes in regions as diverse as New York City, urban Germany, suburban Southern California, rural Canada, and the remote ?bush? of Australia,?(and) shows you how to take responsibility for your future choices and conveniences by living in a beautifully designed home that uses much less energy. Off-the-grid living is a concept that can be easily understood and adopted by everyone, regardless of where you live or how much money you make.?

Since Californian Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's plan to make California a world leader in solar energy, California already is the third-largest consumer of solar power equipment, behind Germany and Japan. The goal of his plan, to create a large, stable solar market that will lower the cost not only of components but also of installation, seems to be helping make solar energy more affordable for home owners here at home.

However, for many of us, building a zero energy or energy efficient home may be financially out of the question. But, homeowners can improve their situation in two ways: by using less energy and by wasting less of what is used and by making their existing homes more energy-efficient. Here are some specific ideas that can be put in place right away.

Using less energy:

• Check the ducts for leaks and repair ducts with mastic or special metallic-backed tape. Leakage of conditioned air from broken or disconnected ducts accounts for 20 to 40 percent of energy loss.
• Turn up your air-conditioner to 78 degrees in the summer while you are home and at 85 degrees while you are away, in the winter set at 68 degrees, you can significantly trim your energy bill and contribute to a lighter load on the power grid. Fans can help make the higher summer temperatures comfortable at a lower energy consumption.
• Turn off lights, appliances, televisions, computers, stereos, radios, etc. when not in current use. If you are going to be gone for even twenty minutes, or the stereo is on upstairs and you're going to be downstairs for twenty minutes ? flip the switch!

Products and projects to make your home more energy efficient:

• Purchase compact fluorescent lamps and energy-efficient appliances help reduce electrical consumption.
• Limit the impact of the sun with shade such as building a vine covered trellis that will cast shade on your windows or sunniest side of the house. You can also use awnings, shadecloth, or trees to block the sun on the exterior.
• Replace your windows with double paned or other energy efficient windows that block some of the heat from the window in the summer and block cold air in the winter.
• Upgrade your ceiling insulation to keep heat captured in the attic during the summer from entering living spaces and to keep heat in the house during the winter from escaping through the attic.
• Look for do-it-yourself solar thermal projects that can make your house more energy efficient. Just check the internet for energy efficient projects, and you'll find some. The books stores are usually well-stocked with do-it-yourself project books.

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Wind Turbine Generators.

One of the most commonly asked questions from someone just learning about alternative energy benefits would be, ?Why is alternative energy good for us?? The answer is simple, alternative energy may be the only way to produce energy in the future. Fossil Fuels such as coal or natural gas are limited to what is already available. How much we can mine out from deep within the Earth plays a big factor in how long we will be able to use these fossil fuels. Generations to come may need to use alternative energy if all of the fossil fuels are gone.

If we run out of fossil fuels, we will have to use some sort of alternative energy produced from the wind, the sun or from water power. These energy sources can easily be replenished in a short amount of time. Fossil fuels like coal and natural gas cannot be replaced. Once these sources are depleted they are gone from our Earth.

Why is alternative energy good in some cases but not in others? Alternative energy cannot be stored up in large amounts to provide energy when there is no sun or no wind. Fossil fuels like coal and wood can be stockpiled to cover the energy needs of the people for a long period of time.

Why is alternative energy good for people in remote locations? People who choose to build their homes in remote locations can benefit from using solar power as an alternative to paying for electric lines to be run all the way to them. These homes are considered to be off the grid. This just means that they produce enough energy from solar panels to run their house independent from any electric company.

Alternative energy is a great alternative to fossil fuels but it does have a downside to it. We need to further our research for alternative energy sources and how they can be utilized over a wide scale. The need to no longer mine coal and cut down trees to fuel our electric plants will be realized with new ways to use alternative energy and make it available on a wider scale.

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Wind Turbine Generators.

As Remi Wilkinson, Senior Analyst with Carbon Free, puts it, inevitably, the growth of distributed generation will lead to the restructuring of the retail electricity market and the generation, transmission and distribution infrastructure. The power providers may have to diversify their business to make up for revenues lost through household energy microgeneration. She is referring to the conclusions by a group of UK analysts, herself included among them, who call themselves Carbon Free. Carbon Free has been studying the ever-growing trend toward alternative energy-using homes in England and the West. This trend is being driven by ever-more government recommendation and sometimes backing of alternative energy research and development, the rising cost of oil and other fossil fuels, concern about environmental degradation, and desires to be energy independent. Carbon Free concludes that, assuming traditional energy prices remain at their current level or rise, microgeneration (meeting all of one's home's energy needs by installing alternative energy technology such as solar panels or wind turbines) will become to home energy supply what the Internet became to home communications and data gathering, and eventually this will have deep effects on the businesses of the existing energy supply companies.

Carbon Free's analyses also show that energy companies themselves have jumped in on the game and seek to leverage microgeneration to their own advantage for opening up new markets for themselves. Carbon Free cites the example of electricity companies (in the UK) reporting that they are seriously researching and developing ideas for new geothermal energy facilities, as these companies see geothermal energy production as a highly profitable wave of the future. Another conclusion of Carbon Free is that solar energy hot water heating technology is an efficient technology for reducing home water heating costs in the long run, although it is initially quite expensive to install. However, solar power is not yet cost-effective for corporations, as they require too much in the way of specialized plumbing to implement solar energy hot water heating. Lastly, Carbon Free tells us that installing wind turbines is an efficient way of reducing home electricity costs, while also being more independent. However, again this is initially a very expensive thing to have installed, and companies would do well to begin slashing their prices on these devices or they could find themselves losing market share.

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Wind Turbine Generators.

There is a lot to be said for the new crop of environmental-friendly, retiring Baby Boomers that are refusing the canned retirement solutions that are out there aplenty. Many have had to live in the cities that created their employment...complete with smog and crime. Years have gone by, the kids have been protected as much as possible in gated communities and the day has finally dawned when it's time to take a look at "what's next."

The idea of travel that so held the attention of their elders has less appeal to our Baby Boomers. Cruise ship horror stories and the risks that have become part of RVing have taken the shine off of what their parents were satisfied with. Also, many have traveled extensively in their work and have added expensive vacations to far away places with strange sounding names to the mix.

Freedom doesn't even have the draw that it had for earlier generations. Many Baby Boomers have been connected with web-oriented businesses and have been able to work at home some of the time, following their own pace. This usually meant longer hours for most of them, but more personal freedom was involved.

As a result this new breed wants to get the heck out of Dodge and do some kind of physical work. That's right, they don't want to be taken care of or sit around the campfire, they want to address the challenges that correspond with their ideals.

Peace and quiet rate high on many Baby Boomers' lists of priorities. Living more simply calls to them. "Off the grid" was not a phrase most of us were familiar with even ten years ago. If we had heard it, it would have been with fear and loathing that we would have considered living without being connected to a reliable power source. However, these up and coming retirees are often extremely interested in solar panels and battery banks. Conservation and personal independence rank high.

In addition, unique designs for homes that circumvent the need for central heating and air conditioning are coming to the fore. The strawbale house is a wonder in temperature economy. Thick walls of dry bales of straw are covered with a "skin". The one I recently viewed was plastered with a mixture of adobe mud and cement. Contractors and architects are getting on the bandwagon as this trend spreads. Books and seminars on strawbale building are under heavy demand.

And then there are the Earth Ships. These are energy-efficient homes dug into hillsides and constructed with great care to offer shelter without messing with the environment. The one I visited looked amazingly cozy.

Our Baby Boomers want a new kind of challenge and most of them are extending it into organic gardening, another science that offers them simplicity and increased wellness. They want to grow what they eat to a great extent. There's usually plenty of room to do this because they buy acreage not a lot. This movement toward healthy living isn't carefree but that's not what most of them are about. They are willing to work long and hard.

You will find, in their strange residences, battery-run, lap top computers! After all, email, like life, must go on! Boomers are making sure that the things that matter to them are included. It's never been about denial. For lack of a better description, I would call their evolving ethic "creating a challenging simplicity."

If you get a chance to read up on this movement and/or have an opportunity to visit someone who is immersed in it, don't pass it up. Rome is being rebuilt, yet again.
About The Author

Luise Volta's life has included careers in nursing, teaching pre-school, interior design, Real Estate sales, insurance adjusting, and dairy herd testing. Visit for Home and Garden.

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Wind Turbine Generators.