Wind turbines blow away utility bills
A North Wales businessman who built a 21st century house to obliterate his utility bills has moved a step closer with the erection of three wind turbines in a field near his Flintshire home.
The 8 metre high structures don’t require planning permission and make no noise.
Russell White has nearly completed his home on a former six acre farm near Northop. When complete he says it will be totally self sufficient, generating all the energy and water he needs.
The property has achieved the maximum level 6 of sustainability according to the Code for Sustainable Homes.
He said: “I am passionate about saving energy, so much so, that when the dream of building my own home became a reality, I built a zero-carbon home.”
Mr White said his green venture will earn him thousands from utility companies.
Once the wind turbines are up and running and the well connected for running water, he expects to make up to five thousand pounds a year.
“Like everyone else, I was aware that my fuel bills were increasing. I was also aware that renewable energy was available but it was not clear how to get the best from it. Following extensive research into the different sources of renewable energy available I have developed a portfolio of products. These products are also an integral part of my zero-carbon eco friendly home,” said Russell.
There are also solar panels on the property so it is generating its own electricity and the rainwater from gutters is also stored for use. The family also has solar hot water.
Mr White, the managing director of eco renewable company Allbrite added: “We do log burners and biomass which link to the solar and we can heat the house and also top up the hot water in the winter so you’re not putting all your eggs in one basket.”
Domestic wind turbines are a superb way of generating electricity from wind and they are eligible for the government renewable energy feed in tariff scheme. Homeowners can expect a fast return on investment. They are also very environmentally friendly, and a low cost source of sustainable energy.
You can expect a return on your investment from your domestic wind turbine within 10 years, over its lifetime it will pay for itself many times over.
Russell feels it’s important he has the products in his house which he sells at Allbrite to prove their green credentials.
The house cost 30 per cent less to build than a standard house its size and Russell believes this is a house for the future.
He said: “The future isn’t gas and oil it’s about renewables and it’s never one product it’s an integration of different products to fit your lifestyle. I passionately believe I’ve got it right.”
Earth, Wind and Solar Energy
Wind power and solar energy are not only a great way of reducing your carbon footprint but with same careful planning and consideration they might also help many of us to save a bit of cash in the long term.
Energy prices seem to be going only one way and that’s up and in a time when every penny is crucial, it’s certainly worth looking at alternative options.
Wind power through the use of wind turbines is one such form of generating power or energy away from what have become known as the traditional methods. Although, wind turbines haven’t particularly been universally embraced, there is no doubting their effectiveness and they are certainly here to stay!
Many may have the mental image of large turbines they may have seen on a local coastline, but as technology advances, wind turbines are now available in smaller sizes and it’s not uncommon for residents to install them on their own properties, with some models not requiring planning permission. Worried about potential noise? Some of the most recent models are now very, very quiet!
The advance of solar energy is perhaps even more obvious than wind energy and there are different ways for solar heating to be implemented. Once such way is solar hot water where panels are, in most cases, fitted to the roof of your property. Water is circulated around the panels and heated directly by the sun. In tandem with a storage tank, this is a great way of producing some extra hot water, whilst keeping electricity bills under control.
So, that’s just a couple of ways in which you can use renewable energy. Please visit the main Allbrite UK website for lots more information.
U.S. in a spin over damaged turbine
A damaged wind turbine is causing a storm in the United States.
Officials are investigating what has caused the wind turbine in Ohio to break apart.
The local news team got calls from worried residents who had found what appeared to be debris from a wind turbine’s blade in a field.
Officials have said only one of the 55 wind turbines has been damaged.
Earlier this year one of the UK’s largest windfarms was switched off after one its turbines was damaged.
A full investigation was carried out into the Powys site.
However, damage to wind turbines is a rare occurrence.
Trump’s wind farm problem
Business tycoon Donald Trump’s warned Scotland it will end up in “serious trouble” if it continues to favour wind farms.
Mr Trump is a regular visitor to The Highlands as he has a £1bn golf resort in Aberdeenshire.
He is against plans for an offshore windfarm development near his leisure facility.
There is currently an application in to build 11 wind turbines, just over a mile away from his luxury complex.
The BBC’s website reported that Mr Trump told a parliamentary inquiry that he believes windfarms in general were “inefficient, could not operate without big subsidies and killed massive amounts of wildlife”.
He was quizzed as part of an inquiry into whether the Government can reach its green requirements.
Ministers want to see Scotland generating the equivalent of 100% of its own electricity demand from renewable resources by 2020.
Mr Trump supports wave and tidal power but isn’t so keen on wind farms. He believes that Scotland could lose tourism to Ireland if it continues to invest in this particular renewable energy.
The Scottish government said offshore wind was worth £30bn of investment to Scotland, and could create up to 28,000 local jobs.
Villagers fear twin turbines
Plans to erect two wind turbines in Leicestershire have angered locals.
The turbines are 328ft tall and REG Windpower want to put them up in a field next to a cement works.
Residents are concerned the rotor blades could possibly suck exhaust from the cement works downwards, polluting the Rutland countryside.
A company spokesman said research would suggest emissions would not increase.
A decision is expected in May.