Gone with the Wind

If you’ve ever driven through rural America, you’ve probably seen giant turbines raised from the fields to capture the wind and convert it to energy. Too bad one of those wouldn’t fit into your backyard!

Now, smaller residential wind turbines have been developed for people who want to use the renewable resource of heavy gusts to power their homes. The generators mostly have “plug and play” systems, meaning they can be plugged directly into your home electrical panel. According to the New York Times, there is not yet a measure of just how many people are using wind turbines, but there has been a shift in the past few years of people wanting to install them.

It’s not a money-saving measure, however. If you want to create a green home  and spend less money, there are some easy ways to do so. Wind turbines will reduce your carbon footprint by making you less reliant on other fuel sources, but it can take up to 20 years to see any cost benefit. Some states do offer incentives for using wind power, which might cover up to 30% of the cost. And yes, it’s still probably easier to erect a 60-foot tower on a farm in the Dakotas than it is in downtown San Francisco—but if you’re really serious about going green then this might be another step to consider. [New York Times]