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[racnruss]

I've been interested in installing a residential windmill for a while.  Anyone here have any experience with one?

[kommandokenny]

I fished up in the bush, near a cabin, with one .noisy as heFF ,, had to move ...scared the fish

[Sluggo]

Expensive as hell also.  They are not cost effective yet from what I was quoted.  $56,000 to run my my house and shed.  Yikes

[Bud Man]

There are hundreds (yes,hundreds) of windmills around here and they are noisy. And all the flashing red lights at night. Annoying. Seems as though there is always a crane in the neighborhood working on them. I know of one guy with a smaller residential windmill and is very disappointed, broken down most of the time. Says it will never pay for itself.
A friend of mine has solar panels and is happy with them. Runs his house and auto body business with them and still has enough to sell to the power company. No noise, no lights just an adjustment once in a while to keep the angle correct to catch the most sun.

[mlappin]

If I was to do the wind thing, I'd go with one of these, not enough to run the farm but would supplement the power.


http://www.windspireenergy.com/index.html

[slimjim]

Poor investment, long payback, much better off to invest in solar or hydro!

[Roger2561]

My problem whether it be solar or wind is the initial investment; I simply do not have that kind of capital available.  After finally paying off my mortgage, I am not going to re-mortgage my home.  If they would lower the price to a point where everyday people can afford them, I'd seriously consider solar.  Roger

[mlappin]

My problem whether it be solar or wind is the initial investment; I simply do not have that kind of capital available.  After finally paying off my mortgage, I am not going to re-mortgage my home.  If they would lower the price to a point where everyday people can afford them, I'd seriously consider solar.  Roger

Depending on your area, solar can be a long payoff as well. We're in a area that gets a lot of lake effect clouds off the great lakes. Certainly if your looking at a system to run your entire home, then adding storage costs for when the wind ain't blowing or the sun ain't up, then yah a person could drop tens of thousands of dollars in a setup.  With rebates and tax breaks the system I linked above could cost you as little as $3800. I have almost a $3600 a year utility bill, of course that also runs the shop, any vehicles/tractors that may be plugged in thru the winter, the heaters in the livestock waterers, etc. Any little bit that helps to lower that is worth it in the long run.

[willieG]

although I am in Canada, I believe while looking into solar power I found that in the US most states allow "net metering" where you (as long as your equipment meets the power providers rules)  can  hook  your solar or wind system to the grid and actually turn the meter backwards. This way you put  any excess power you  make  back into the grid and when the sun is not shining or the wind is not blowing you use power from the grid. if you use less than you put in you get a credit, if you use more than you put in you only pay for the difference as your meter will tell you. This eliminates the need for expensive storage batteries.

[mlappin]

although I am in Canada, I believe while looking into solar power I found that in the US most states allow "net metering" where you (as long as your equipment meets the power providers rules)  can  hook  your solar or wind system to the grid and actually turn the meter backwards. This way you put  any excess power you  make  back into the grid and when the sun is not shining or the wind is not blowing you use power from the grid. if you use less than you put in you get a credit, if you use more than you put in you only pay for the difference as your meter will tell you. This eliminates the need for expensive storage batteries.

Exactly, if in the middle of the night your windmill is providing more than you can use its a credit, during the day if it's not generating enough your buying the difference from the utility. With the new meters I could could place a windmill or several a quarter mile down the road on the highest part of the farm, run that straight to the utility line instead of the house and my electric bill would reflect as if the windmill was running the house.

[oldchenowth]

I'd like to run solar myself.  Like Roger said, initial investment is too heavy right now. Consumers Energy will allow you to apply to sell them the excess for $100 fee.  My understanding is you still need battery banks to store for the house during off peak times and provide actual juice to the home.  The panels just charge the banks and after they are 100%, the rest can be sent to the grid.  A system for our house would run in the ball park of $10k.  Yeooowww

[fsuftball]

i put up over 400 for siemens in texas.. they always break down and its not the best to get power..

on a small scale just install beter light bulbs they will pay off faster

[atvalaska]

I had a guy in town (who has been doing this  stuff for years/retail/and the working end of it) he's big (BIG) into the math on these wind solar things ,came out to my place (4a 100$) and quoted me a simple system /grid tie ...15,000$  ...he really stressed that solar was the best bang for said dollar spent...and he has/had told  me that there are certain times that u use "you use their power"  and "u use your power".....  it was pertly deep, and enlight-ing  ...but this a 15,000.00 free zone

[racnruss]

So, what I'm hearing is about 10-15 year payback.  What is life expectancy of solar panels and the residential size windmills?

[willieG]

So, what I'm hearing is about 10-15 year payback.  What is life expectancy of solar panels and the residential size windmills?

the solar panels on my trackers are warrantied to not lose more than 1 percent of their efficiency per year for 20 years