Wind To Power: A Green Move
by Kevin J. Fry
Wind to power is commonly called wind energy. This renewable resource is from the wind movement caused by natural activities in our atmosphere. The difference in the amount of heat the earth receives results in the variation of temperature that causes the flow of air. The uneven slope of the earth's surface and the rotary motion create the wind - the movement of air.
The idea about wind power for electricity started from the Oil Crisis in 1970.
The use of wind power for mechanical purpose was already exploited though during the late 19th century. Farm and ranch owners use wind power for irrigation and grain refinement.
A machine is attached to a propeller which spins with the help of the wind. The spinning movement will cause the gears to rotate and pump water from the well to the farm.
For grain refinement, the propellers are attached to a grinding mechanism that will polish the grains poured into the conveyor. In other places they use wind power in propelling boats and ships to travel the seas. They point their sails in the direction of the wind pushing the boat or ship to move. This was the reason people from other places were able to trade goods with merchants from other towns.
The kinetic energy of the wind is utilized by the windmill turbines to make electricity. In place of fossil fuels, the natural resource found in our atmosphere is used as raw material. The wind turbines, which come in two types, can generate various amount of electricity. The horizontal and vertical axis turbine works in the same way. A small turbine can generate 100 watts of electricity or more for one household. The larger turbine can produce 1 megawatts of electricity.
Using the wind power is a step towards attaining a greener environment. The fact that the wind is a renewable supply of pure energy, this major environmental advantage is the biggest reason why people are suddenly switching to wind power. Wind farms in the US were able to counterbalance the release of 2.5 billion pounds of carbon dioxide and several million pounds of other impurities. This system of producing power can also maximize the use of your land since the installation of windmill turbines take only a little area leaving the other section free for other purposes like agriculture. You can keep your crops while generating a bigger crop in the form of electricity. This is also great in powering up remote areas like the mountainsides and the wilderness. There is always a right windmill turbine that can produce electricity for you and your community. The wind contains a total kinetic energy that is eighty times greater than what humans need. Only a portion of this kinetic energy is enough to provide our electricity needs given the proper technological advancement. The wind energy is free. With the progress in science, the cost of installing a windmill turbine and the maintenance significantly reduced to almost a half. This lifetime investment is a cheaper option than any other electricity producing system.
About the Author:
Kevin Fry is an author of the web site Solar At Home. He is an expert in installing solar panels, building his own solar panels, and teaching others how to do the same. You can find out more about using solar and other renewable energy resources at his web site.
