HealthyHabitat.com is marketing a $479 wind turbine that will generate 200 watts at wind speeds as low as 8 metres per second, and deliver useful power at a gentle 3 metre/sec breeze or give up to 300W at higher wind velocities. The price includes 4.5 meters of tower piping, tower base, guy wires, steel rope clamps and other mounting hardware. You’ll need some skill in construction, especially in pouring concrete, mechanical assembly and rigging.
The average household in the United States uses about 8,900 kilowatt-hours of electricity each year, so a 200-watt wind turbine isn’t going to get you off the grid, but it could be a good source of back-up power.
