The low plains of southeastern Idaho where I grew up were marked by fierce winds year-round and blowing snow in the winter. Most farmers planted some sort of wind break around their property. Wind breaks offer protection from the wind and blowing snow. Houses stay warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer, cutting energy costs by as much as 20 to 40 percent, according to the University of Missouri Extension. If you live near a busy farm road, windbreaks can reduce traffic noise. The windbreak growing behind my home on the eastern plains
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Every president since Ronald Reagan has promised to achieve American energy independence, and each president has failed. It is time to put an end to the rhetorically powerful speeches that promise energy independence and adapt real strategies that can achieve pragmatic change. These changes will not begin and end with the president: they will begin
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If you are like most people, you take it for granted that when you flip the light switch in your bedroom, you will have lights. However, there could very well come a day when electricity is not available. The power grids across the country are becoming overloaded. Blackouts are common in many cities, and people
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The wind sweeping across your homestead is a harvestable resource capable of helping you meet all of your home energy needs. But successfully investing in a home wind power system requires wise planning and thoughtful investigation. Before you rush headlong into it, there are a number of things you will have to take into consideration,
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This is part two of our original “Building A Battery Bank For Your Off-Grid Energy Needs“ Building a battery bank will allow you to harness the maximum technical advantage from your alternative power generation techniques. However, electricity and stored power are a couple of intimidating technologies and offer some daunting challenges. Most important of all, if you are not completely comfortable and confident in your skills, do not risk the potentially life-threatening events that can result from simple mistakes.  In general, step-by-step processes can minimize your risk, but you should be comfortable in your tools,
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On Tuesday, July 31st, the nation of India experienced the biggest power failure in the history of the world, as approximately 670 million people in the northern and eastern parts of the country lost their electrical service for several hours. This broke a record that had been established just one day earlier, when 370 million Indians living in the northern part of the country had been left without power for a similar period of time. Overall, twenty out of the nation’s twenty-nine states were affected by this electrical outage, which paralyzed hospitals and airports, left
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Everyone is familiar with that old axiom from the housing real estate market about the importance of “location, location, location.” This principle goes double for a wind power system, which will not function effectively unless it is placed in the proper spot. To some extent of course this is obvious, as common sense will tell
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Solar and wind energy can be as fickle as the weather they depend upon. Therefore, anyone hoping to escape from the grid by turning to these renewable forms of energy must have good storage systems set up to supply all of their power needs when the sun has set and the winds have become still. Battery banks are the best choice for renewable energy storage. By using batteries to deliver energy captured from the sun and the wind in a consistent and reliable form, renewable power enthusiasts will not be left dependent on the whims
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Separately, wind and solar energy are effective ways to power a home or a business but can be limited due to lack of sun or a sudden shift in wind velocity. Using a combination of these will provides a stable, higher energy output to power your home or business. These hybrid energy systems generally include
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There are a number of factors to consider when researching whether a wind turbine is the correct choice for your home’s off-grid power source. Issues such as your home’s overall power need, the location and topology of your property, and your budget will determine whether a wind turbine is appropriate for you. Before reviewing your
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