| Reduce your electric bill and help save the earth by | | | | month at a 10 mph average wind speed. These |
| building a windmill for your home. In the story, Man of | | | | systems are for very large homes and small |
| La Mancha, Don Quixote went chasing after windmills | | | | businesses that require large amounts of electricity. |
| looking for impossible dreams. You don't need to do | | | | The first thing you should do is find out your town's |
| that because it's not an impossible dream to | | | | rules about constructing wind mills. Also, learn about |
| construct your own wind turbine, and it's very | | | | the wind where you live to find out if it is windy |
| affordable. Wind mills are also called wind turbines. | | | | enough to make your turbine turn. Then, purchase a |
| Wind turbines are very popular in the United States | | | | comprehensive instruction manual that will tell you |
| and all over the world. Many private homes already | | | | exactly what parts and supplies you need, where to |
| have them. In rural areas, they are actually necessary | | | | get them, and exactly how to assemble them. This is |
| to bring electric to homes that are not tied into the | | | | the most economical way to go. You will be able to |
| power company's grid. Extra electricity that isn't used | | | | get almost everything you need from builders supply |
| can be sold back to the power company, so you will | | | | and hardware stores. All of the parts and supplies will |
| receive money from the electric company rather | | | | cost approximately $200, but you can't put a dollar |
| than pay them for electricity. | | | | amount on the great way you will feel when the job |
| A small wind turbine has rotors (turbine blades and | | | | is finished and you did it yourself. |
| hub) that are about 8 feet in diameter. The turbine | | | | If you don't want to build a do-it-yourself wind mill |
| peaks at 1,000 watts and generates approximately | | | | for your home, you can purchase one and have it |
| 75 kilowatt-hours per month with a 10 mile-per-hour | | | | professionally installed. Getting a turbine this way is |
| average wind speed. Turbines smaller than this may | | | | much more expensive, but if you can afford it, it will |
| be appropriate for RVs, cabins, and other applications | | | | still save you money on your electric bill in the long |
| that require only a small amount of electricity. The | | | | run. By not relying on coal, nuclear energy, or other |
| larger of the small wind turbines could have rotors up | | | | fossil fuels, you will lower your home's carbon |
| to 56 feet in diameter. They peak at about 90,000 | | | | footprint and also be doing your part to help protect |
| watts and generate 3,000-5,000 kilowatt-hours per | | | | the planet. |