RealNews

A growing number of homeowners are producing their own electricity from wind. At current rates, the payback for a system in utility savings is several years, but there are other considerations. Some homeowners install wind electric systems out of environmental concern and some because of reliability concerns with the public power grid. With rising energy costs and improving less expensive technology for wind power, the payback time could shorten considerably over the next few years.

Information on wind power is available at www.smallwindenergy.ca .

National Post

Whittaker estimates a few thousand small wind turbines are sold every year.

Despite recent spikes in energy costs, Whittaker says the motivation for buying or building personal wind turbines - mostly in rural or outlying suburban areas - is rarely economics.

“A lot of people got frightened during the August 2003 blackout or they read in the paper that there might be an electricity shortage,” says Whittaker.

“A lot of people are increasingly aware of climate change and they want to do their part to help the environment. And for other people, it’s a matter of pure interest. It’s almost like a hobby.”

In most cases, it would take homeowners years to save enough money on their power bills to cover the initial costs of the turbines, which can range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars.

But one dealer says consumers will eventually save money.

“The places that are paying more for electricity and have good wind regimes, they’re going to expect a much greater payback,” says John Hogg of Green Grid Solutions Inc., in Waterloo, Ont.