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Comprensión de Lectura en Ingles para I.M.E.

Profra. Martha Patricia Martínez Miranda
Solar energy vs. wind energy: which is right for you?

Solar energy vs. wind energy: which is right for you?

Text taken from: https://www.renewableenergymagazine.com/wind

Installing a renewable energy system on your property is one of the best ways to save money on your
electricity bills while reducing your impact on the environment. Often, your decision will be between solar
5 energy and wind ___(1)___. If you’re a homeowner weighing your renewable energy options, you already
know that thorough research is the ___(2)___ way to find the right system for your home. Here’s everything
you need to know about the benefits of residential wind vs. solar so that you can make your decision with
confidence.

The big takeaway: solar makes more sense for residential

properties
If you’re interested in installing a renewable energy system on your property, solar is usually the best
option. All things considered, solar isn’t as popular as wind at the utility scale, but is generally a more
practical renewable option for residential energy production. An experiment by Inland Power & Light,
a utility in the Pacific Northwest, underscores the ___(3)___ benefits of residential solar. After fielding
many inquiries about the benefits of solar vs. wind energy for homes, the utility actually installed both
15 technologies at their corporate headquarters in Spokane, Washington to provide a definitive answer to
their customers. Their result: Over the course of 14 months, the solar panels produced about five times
as much electricity as the wind turbine.
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Wind vs. solar: comparing the top renewables
In the United States, wind power is ___(4)___ more popular than solar. Out of all the renewable
20 energy produced in the U.S. in 2019, 24% came from wind, while 9% came from solar power. Utilities
and large scale operations heavily utilize wind energy while homeowners prefer solar energy.

The primary benefit of wind over solar power for your home is that wind turbines aren’t dependent on
sunlight. This means that they have the ability to generate power 24 hours a day, whereas solar panels
___(5)__ generate power during sunlight hours. Wind comes with a significant caveat, however: in
25 order to be effective, wind turbines need to be situated high above any obstacles that would block the
wind.

A typical wind turbine for residential use is about 80 feet tall, and it needs to be in the path of some
serious wind to produce power efficiently. Most installers recommend sites with average wind speeds
of at least 12 miles per hour. If you live in a rural, __(6)__ area with lots of open space and few
obstructions blocking the wind’s path, then installing wind turbines at your property can be a great
30 option for renewable energy production. If you’re looking for a supplementary power source, rather
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Comprensión de Lectura en Ingles para I.M.E.
Profra. Martha Patricia Martínez Miranda
Solar energy vs. wind energy: which is right for you?

than a primary one, you can also find smaller wind turbines at a relatively low cost that will provide an
extra ‘boost’ of ___(7)___.

In contrast, solar panels can be installed on almost any roof, as well as on the ground, and still produce
enough power to meet the majority of your electricity needs. In the EnergySage Solar Marketplace, the
35 average solar shopper meets over 94 percent of their annual electricity needs with solar in 2020.

Wind turbines also have moving parts, which can result in more wear-and-tear and higher maintenance
requirements. Unless you choose ground-mounted solar panels with a tracking system (a technology
generally __(8)__ for utility solar installations), your solar PV system will be stationary and require
limited maintenance.

40 What about renewable options other than solar and wind?

There’s no reason that a solar panel system has to be the renewable energy that you use in your home.
Solar thermal technology, which can provide both heat and hot water for your home, is often installed
alongside solar PV. If you’re looking for a renewable ___(9)___ and cooling system to pair with your
solar panels, you can also install a geothermal heat pump to use the naturally existing heat
45 underground to regulate the temperature of your home.

Compare all of your options before making a decision

Whatever renewable energy option you’re considering, it’s always a good idea to compare multiple
offers before making a final decision. Solar can save you thousands on your electricity bills. Want to
see for yourself? Check out EnergySage’s Solar Calculator to get an instant estimate of how much
50 solar could save you. Once ready, compare quotes from solar installers on the EnergySage Solar
Marketplace to find the best deal. Solar __(10)__ in the Marketplace generally save up to 25 percent
off the costs of installing a solar panel system simply by shopping around first. There’s no better way
to go solar.

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This post originally appeared on Mother Earth News.

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Comprensión de Lectura en Ingles para I.M.E.
Profra. Martha Patricia Martínez Miranda
Solar energy vs. wind energy: which is right for you?