Appropriate Energy Questions

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BECO provides answers to questions about appropriate energy, and related topics.
Appropriate Energy
Our house uses 600kwhs of electric per month. How much will it cost me to use photovoltaic and/or wind to replace that amount. Jim
Jim, The cost of appropriate energy is not the same low price per kilowatt hour as the fossil fuel electrical generators charge. One reason that public utilities kilowatt rate is less expensive is because the price the effluence's from coal etc. discharged are not paid directly from your electric bill. Just to give you a ball park figure; the price to replace your 600kwhs of mass produced electric with appropriate energy would be possibly $1.25 - $1.75 per watt. That means (if your still with me) that to replace the 600kwhs for contemporary electric with appropriate energy it could cost as much as $750,000. Before you go any further start with a smaller demand. Reduce your demand. Power only one part of your current demand. If you pump your own water sent up a system used only for water service. After a few months when you and your family adapt to the change you can add to the watt input to service other electric needs. Currently the Minnesota Public Utilities Commissioners (PUC) are reviewing requests by the utilities to increase the kilowatt rates. Cheap electric is a thing of our past. One more thing to consider is the future reliability of the grid. With the many laid off workers with out jobs sabotage of the distribution is likely. Keep in touch.
I bought a small farm back in 98'. Currently I care for several horses from the grasses that grow on the property. A wind water pump tower is still on the home site. If I disconnect the pump rod from the pump the wind blades will power the rod. Could I convert this wind mill from water pumping to electric production just by attaching a generator to the pump rod? Robert
Robert,The wind pumping systems designed from earlier times are designed for power not speed. The multi blade wind catcher along with a lubricated gear box assured water will be pumped. To generate electric power from wind will require speed. The only part of the old wind mill that is of use will be the tower. Depending on the height of the tower and the number and size of the surrounding obstacles that may block a smooth wind flow the tower could nest a wind turbine. I'm located in Minnesota. For the price to cover transportation expenses I'd be glad to come out to access your wind potentials.
I care for several horses on a small farm. When I bought this farm three years ago there is a water pump tower. The well has been filled in over the years. The wind blades appear in tack. The pump shaft in bolted to the unoperable pump. Is there a way to use the wind blades to power a generater? Bob
Bob, The only part of the wind pumping unit that will be of use to you in implimenting electric power is the tower. The multi-finned wind blades will not work for electric generation. That style is for power not speed. Before I can advise further I need to know the height of the tower and its position in relation to other obstruction in the wind path. You do have a major part of the investment required to utilize wind. E-mail me your location I'll get back to you. R.L. Philippi beco1@hughes.net