Wind Power for the Home
A new, smaller windmill comes directly to the consumer
A new and smaller residential wind generator is coming to market. The Skystream 3.7 from Southwest Windpower will give homeowners a new way to combat rising electricity costs.
Skystream’s low cost and low profile provides homeowners an affordable energy supplement that’s appropriate for installation in many residential areas around the country. With no batteries, Skystream 3.7 connects directly to the home to supply power. When the wind is not blowing, the home is powered by the electric utility. Depending on the local utility, excess electricity can be sold back to the utility or used at a later date.
Cost
Right now, the cost is in the range of $8,000 to $10,000 to purchase and install. Skystream 3.7 can pay for itself in 5 to 12 years and will save the average homeowner $500 to $800 per year. This output would provide 40 to 90 percent of an average home’s energy needs. In some states like Hawaii, where the cost of energy and wind speeds are both high, Skystream 3.7 can pay for itself in less than 4 years.
I think that home–based energy production is promising. This is an interesting entrant into this market.
About Southwest Windpower
Flagstaff Arizona-based Southwest Windpower is the world’s largest producer of small wind generators (400 to 3000 watts). The 20-year old company has been a pioneer in the development of wind technology and has produced over 90,000 generators that provide power to residential homes, remote cabins, telecom transmitters, offshore platforms, water pumping and sailboats. Southwest Windpower distributes in more than 88 countries.
That’s the coolest news item I’ve come across all day. But $8-10,000? No one struggling to pay their electric bill is going to be able to afford a price tage like that.
Sounds like the rich, Hollywood hippies are going to get it first and stygmatize it before it becomes affordable to midwesterners who could use it, too.