Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, June 19, 1994 TAG: 9406290017
SECTION: HOMES PAGE: D5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: James Dulley
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
A: There are many sizes of electric-generating windmills available for homes like yours. The smallest ones are portable and weigh only 20 pounds. You can mount one on a piece of 2-inch pipe. Most windmills are sold as entire do-it-yourself kits - poles, wiring, controls, etc..
Using wind energy is virtually nonpolluting. It is also an excellent complement to solar cell (PV) panels on your house to produce even more electricity. In 1991 in California alone, the utility companies' wind-generating farms reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 2.7 billion pounds.
Depending on your budget, you can install a small windmill to produce just a fraction of the electricity your family requires to a large one to supply most of your electric needs. Once you installed, there is very little maintenance, and you should get free electricity for many years.
At times when the windmill produces more electricity than you need, many utility companies will purchase the extra electricity from you. You should still remain connected to the utility company's line for times when the wind is calm and it isn't sunny (if you also have solar PV panels).
A typical whole-house residential-size windmill has a rotor blade diameter of 15 feet and a rated output of 4,000 watts of electricity. An automatic computerized "brain" controls the electricity output and frequency to match your utility company's output.
There are new small portable lightweight (about 20 pounds) windmills. These are ideal for home use, backyard workshop, or camping. You can easily carry them under your arm. These begin to produce electricity in a wind as light as 7.5 m.p.h. For stormy conditions, there is an automatic high-wind protection feature.
You can use these small windmills to power refrigerators, lights, TV's, power tools, etc. The ideal system is to wire it to car-type batteries and include a small solar PV panel. The windmill charges the batteries when you are not using your appliances. If the wind dies down or it is too cloudy for enough solar power, the batteries supply the electricity.
Before you invest in a larger whole-house windmill, check the typical wind conditions in your area to determine its feasibility. Keep in mind thatthe actual wind speed can vary considerably over very short distances.
Write to me for Utility Bills Update No. 401 listing manufacturers of residential whole-house and small portable windmills and solar cell (PV) panels, model numbers and electricity outputs, detailed product information, and a monthly wind speed chart for 130 cities. Please sende $2 for handling fee - cash or check - to James Dulley, Roanoke Times & World-News, 6906 Royalgreen Dr., Cincinnati, Ohio 45244
Q: I just bought an old electric range that I am going to put in my son's apartment. Is there anything that we can do so it uses less electricity?
A: Electric ranges are very simple devices . Check to make sure that all the burner (element) controls work properly and actually adjust the heat from low to high. Also clean the chrome reflector drip pans or buy new ones. They are very inexpensive and can improve its efficiency.
Check the accuracy of the oven thermostat with a thermometer. If it gets hotter than the setting, this wastes electricity. Check the gasket around the oven door. If it has deteriorated and is leaky, you can replace it.
by CNB