As we move into the future, it's increasingly clear that the way we power our everyday lives is changing. Energy comes in numerous different forms; some are time honored and efficient, and powerful commodities in the international political/economic arena. Others are renewable, and much more agreeable in terms of health and safety. It is these latter manifestations of power which are attracting more attention with younger generations of workers and politicians.

In particular, wind power has become a more prominent force in recent years. It's made the news and will continue to do so as the technological means to acquire energy from the natural occurrence become more advanced. One still-distant day in the future, wind energy might take center stage in the quest to push civilization forward.

How Does Wind Power Work?

Wind itself actually comes from the sun. When the sun's rays unevenly heat the surface of the earth, it causes air molecules to move at different rates of speed. This differentiation accumulates over space until the net movement is discernible to humans in the form of flowing wind. Energy can be harvested from this process by using technology to convert the kinetic energy (physical motion) provided by wind into electricity or mechanical power, most often through a wind turbine or a wind generator - a generator powered by wind.

Turbines and generators are often used in conjunction with each other. A fan connected to the turbine is by itself motionless, but when it moved by wind, the energy expended by the moving air to cause the fan blades to rotate is used to funnel electrons through the turbine's body to the generator, which leads to the production of electricity.

Installing Wind Power At Home

Companies strive to ensure that the metrics of their turbines are compliant with the various codes, statutes, and laws of the locations where they do business. It's important to understand that a wind generator will not be enough to replace your conventional energy supply by itself, but rather you will be able to gradually save a considerable amount with its use. More on that later. When installing a wind-based energy system, there are a few factors to take into consideration:

• That the location commonly expects wind
• That the location is adequately sized (i.e. at least one acre)
• Zoning laws allow for wind technology
• That a user of wind technology is prepared for higher electricity bills
• That the location is not unreasonably close to a power grid

Also make sure that turbines won't significantly adversely affect neighbors or local wildlife.

Cost Savings Of Using Wind Power

Reports indicate that wind power in the U.S. will likely exist as one of the cheapest methods of energy production possible, being about half as costly as natural gas. Initial investments into the technology are still high, but the long term benefits are undeniable.

Average figures compiled from available data indicate that consumers are spending around twelve cents for every kilowatt-hour of electricity. This takes into account the cost of producing power, as well as materials used to transfer electricity from generators to homes, businesses, schools, etc.