Wind energy is a crucial component of the rapidly growing renewable energy industry, which is essential in the fight against climate change. Currently, renewable energy accounts for over 20% of power generation in the US, and wind energy is the second-largest source of renewable energy worldwide, trailing only hydropower. Notably, wind energy is expanding at a faster rate than many other forms of renewable energy. To better understand wind energy, it’s important to know how it works, whether it’s renewable, and how you can use a home wind turbine to power your home. 

You can use wind energy at home by installing a small wind electric system. These systems typically consist of a wind turbine, a tower to support the turbine, a charge controller, and batteries to store the energy generated by the turbine. Professional installers will help determine the size of the turbine you need and manage the installation. 

If you have the space, budget, and weather patterns, a small wind system can reduce your electricity bill and even provide power during an outage (as long as it’s hooked up to some form of energy storage.) 

More info wind turbine for home

Danny Evatt, co-founder and real estate broker with Texas Real Estate Source, states that “while you likely can’t rely on home wind energy to entirely power your house, the energy you do produce can either be stored for future use or directed back into the grid to help lower your monthly utility bills.”

In most areas of the US, a small wind turbine alone does not provide enough electricity to power an entire home. However, you can still use a wind turbine as a supplemental source of energy. 

A typical home uses around 10,700 kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, or 877 per month. Wind turbines range in size from 400 watts to 20 kilowatts, with 1.5 kilowatts being the average. Using these numbers, a 1.5-kilowatt turbine in a location with a 14 mile-per-hour annual wind speed will meet the needs of a home requiring 300 kilowatt-hours per month. This is far below the average 877 kilowatt-hours most homes use every month. 

Location is key as well. Wind turbines typically operate at or above their average capacity only about 40% of the time, while producing little or no energy for the remaining 60%. Therefore, relying solely on wind turbines for home energy needs isn’t possible. This is especially true in urban areas with many buildings and milder weather. 

In order to meet your home’s entire energy needs, you would need a 5-15 kilowatt small wind turbine in an area that receives strong and near-constant wind. This isn’t possible for most people, so consider installing a wind turbine alongside solar panels or a microhydropower system.