Woofenden I. Wind Power For Dummies

Wiley Publishing, Hoboken, NJ, 2009, 384 pages, ISBN: 0470496371The consumer guide to small–scale wind electricity production.Maybe you′re not T. Boone Pickens, but you can build your own home–sized wind–power empire right in your back yard. Wind Power for Your Home For Dummies supplies all the guidance you need to install and maintain a sustainable, cost–effective wind generator to power your home for decades to come.This authoritative, plain–English guide walks you through every step of the process, from assessing your site and available wind sources to deciding whether wind power is the solution for you, from understanding the mechanics of wind power and locating a contractor to install your system to producing your own affordable and sustainable electricity.Guides you step by step through process of selecting, installing, and operating a small–scale wind generator to power your home
Demystifies system configurations, terminology, and wind energy principles to help you speak the language of the pros
Helps assess and reduce your energy needs and decide whether wind power is right for you
Explains the mechanics of home–based wind power
Shows you how to tie into the grid and sell energy back to the power company
Offers advice on evaluating all of the costs of and financing for your project
Provides tips on working with contractors and complying with local zoning laws
Yes, you can do it, with a little help from Wind Power for Your Home For Dummies.Introduction

A Wind Primer: Stuff You Need to Know
Introducing the World of Home Wind Electricity
Is Wind Energy for You?
Deconstructing Wind-Energy Systems
Electricity Basics — a Shocking Amount of Info
Blowing through Vital Wind-Energy PrinciplesAssessing Your Situation
The Home Energy Assessment: Gauging Your Energy Appetite
Increasing Your Home’s Energy Efficiency
Determining Your Site’s Wind-Energy Potential
Defining Your Relationship to the Grid
Calculating the Value of Your Investment
If Not Wind, Then What? Other Options for Green EnergyAssembling Your System
Gathering a Team of Experts — or Going It Alone
Weighing Wind Generator Options
Talking about Towers
Checking Out the Rest of the System Components
Tying Everything Together: System Sizing and DesignInstalling and Operating Your System
Safety First!
Installation Time
Living with Wind EnergyThe Part of Tens
Ten Essential Steps toward a Successful Wind-Electric System
Ten Wind-Energy Mistakes
Ten Tales of Wind-Energy Users and AbusersAppendixesConversions, Abbreviations, and Acronyms