June 21 2010

Special Edition:
Renewable Energy

Special edition: Renewable Energy

Big benefits for you and the planet

Got big breezes?
Across the globe, millions of people Small-scale wind turbines have become a
power their homes and heat their water with viable, if not yet mainstream, means of
clean, abundant, renewable energy from the powering homes with clean, renewable
sun. Solar energy systems have been around for energy. You’ve probably seen clusters of
decades. But in the United States, their accep- huge wind turbines in rural areas. Those
tance has been slow because of their high up- wind farms produce power for the utility
front cost. grid. A residential wind turbine is much
Attitudes are changing, however. With smaller, and rather than multiple turbines,
concern mounting about carbon dioxide emis- a home typically has just one.
sions, rising energy costs, and dependence on
imported oil, having a power plant on the roof Unlike a windmill that pumps water or
sounds awfully attractive. In fact, after tuning up turns a grinding wheel, a wind turbine gen-
your house to make it as energy efficient as erates electricity from the wind’s kinetic
possible, installing a solar energy system is one energy-that’s the energy of motion. When
of the most powerful steps you can take to wind moves the turbine’s blades, it turns a
green your home. shaft connected to an electrical generator.
The generator feeds electricity to your
home.
What’s in It for You

Residential solar energy systems fall into two categories: solar electric
systems and solar hot water systems.
Solar hot water systems, also called solar thermal systems because they
capture heat, can provide hot water for kitchens, bathrooms, laundry, and other
household uses. They can also be used to heat homes, pools, and hot tubs.
Solar electric systems, also called photovoltaic (PV) systems, convert the
sun’s energy into electricity that can power buildings.
Not every household can benefit from a PV or solar hot water system. If your
electricity or water heating costs are extremely low, or if you have too much
shade on your roof or property, a solar energy system may not make sense. Most residential wind power installations
are grid-connected, so when the wind isn’t
But for many people, the energy savings from a PV or solar hot water blowing, you still get power from the utility
system will eventually save money, after you’ve recouped the system’s initial grid. Off-the-grid installations in rural areas
cost. In addition, the system can lock in your energy costs, giving you a hedge rely on banks of batteries to store electric-
against future energy price increases. Although most solar homes still use some ity for use when the wind dies down. Al-
fossil-fuel energy, it is possible to meet your home’s entire energy needs with though a wind turbine costs a lot upfront, it
solar electric and solar hot water systems. And as plug-in hybrids and electric will reduce your electricity costs now and
cars become more available, someday you may be able to run your car on the serve as a hedge against rising energy
sun’s energy. costs in the future.
Solar energy systems may even increase the value of your…
(Con’t Page 2)
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June 21 2010
Special Edition:
Renewable Energy

Top Tips
At home

Conserve first. Before thinking about wind power, work on getting

your home’s energy use as low as possible.
Know your wind speed. For a wind turbine to be cost effective, it
needs ample, consistent wind. Most systems require speeds of at
least 7 to 10 miles per hour before they start producing power,
and 12 to 20 mph provides the best performance. As wind speed
increases, power output increases dramatically. Wind resource
maps, published by the U.S. Department of Energy, can help you
assess the aeolian potential in your area.
Know your codes. Check your local zoning and building codes and
homeowner’s association covenants to see if you are going to bump
up against height or other permitting restrictions. It may be possible
to obtain a variance, but that could be a costly or time-consuming
process.

Consider your space. Wind turbines don’t require a lot of space. But to avoid conflicts with neighbors, wind in-
dustry advocates say that for turbines up to 3 kilowatts (kW), you should have half an acre or more. For systems
from 3 to 10 kW, you should have at least an acre.

Talk to your neighbors. Before moving ahead with a wind turbine purchase, discuss your plans with your
neighbors and invite their questions. Think of it as an opportunity to educate the community about the benefits of
clean, renewable energy. Some people consider wind turbines unsightly, while others delight in the sight of them
spinning. Others are concerned about noise, but experts say that a typical residential wind turbine makes less noise
than a washing machine or an air conditioner. That means you’d be unlikely to hear it inside your house, and your
neighbors wouldn’t hear it at all. And in case you’re wondering, a wind turbine won’t interfere with TV or radio recep-
tion.

When shopping, look for

The right size. If your system is connected to the utility grid, it’s usually sized to ensure that your annual electric-
ity production is no greater than your annual electricity use. That’s because the electric company will not pay
you for excess production. Small residential wind turbines are usually 10 kW or less. It’s rare to see more than
one turbine installed on a residential property, because it’s cheaper to install one large turbine than multiple
smaller ones. A typical 10-kW turbine will have a 20- to 25-foot blade diameter, although smaller systems with
smaller blades are available.
The right height. Wind turbines are mounted on tall towers. Although some 40-foot turbines are available, the
optimal height is 80 to 100 feet. To avoid turbulence, which diminishes performance, the bottom of the tur-
bine’s blades should be at least 10 feet above the tops of trees, buildings, or other structures that are within
300 feet of the turbine. Higher is usually better. According to the American Wind Energy Association, if the
height of a 10-kW turbine is increased from 60 to 100 feet, the system cost will increase by 10% but the power
output will increase by 29%.
Durability. The towers are usually made from steel and are either self-supporting or guyed. Guyed towers have
guy wires anchored at a distance from the tower’s base, so they require more space. Self-supporting towers are
heftier and costlier.

Article Continues at SCGH.com

Find a GreenCheck verified Renewable
Energy Provider near you!
June 21 2010
Special Edition:
Renewable Energy

GreenCheck is a great source of credibility for your company and ensures to

your clients, old and new, that you are taking the extra steps towards environ-
mental responsibility. Learn more about our GreenCheck.

Fuel Cells. The Future of Energy, Today.

Experts from ClearEdge Power tout Fuel Cell Energy and an expla-
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June 21 2010
Special Edition:
Renewable Energy

Green Fuel Gone Residential

Emergence of a quite, efficient, and clean fuel

Fuel cell technology is an emerging form of cleaner energy that

seems to be within reach for consumers. The main drawback is in
the costly expenses associated with the units, in comparison to
conventional fossil fuel systems. Fuel cell systems have proven to
produce at least twice as much energy and little to no pollution,
unlike their ‘dirty fuel’ counterparts. In 2003, President Bush an-
nounced a program called the Hydrogen Fuel Initiative (HFI) which
aims to develop hydrogen-based fuel cell technologies. The initia-
tive is supported by the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and the Ad-
vanced Energy Initiative of 2006, both organizations hope to make
fuel cell technology practical in vehicles and cost-effective for the
average citizen.
The by-products of fuel cell technology are water and heat, and some release of CO2. When com-
pared to conventional fossil fuels, this cleaner alternative sounds too good to be true. However, the
use of fuel cell technologies is only continuing to grow in numbers as companies strive to develop
the perfect fuel cell for the modern day world, commercial and residentially.
Benefits of fuel cell technology

The systems are deemed to be environmentally friendly, since they operate with higher effi-
ciency. Conventional fuel systems are only 30% efficient.
Fuel cells may run on ecologically derived substances like ethanol and methanol.

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June 21 2010
Special Edition:
Renewable Energy

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