| Wind power is considered by many as an emerging | | | | blades pass the tower; however this is only heard at a |
| technology, the truth of the matter is we have been | | | | relatively close range. |
| using wind power for many hundreds of years to grind | | | | Wind farms are not cost effective |
| our corn and even for milking our cattle. With the dawn | | | | Twenty to thirty years ago, wind farms and wind |
| of the industrial revolution the use of wind to power | | | | turbine technology was a victim of trial and error to a |
| machinery fell by the wayside as steam and | | | | certain extent. Let us not confuse older, noisier and |
| eventually electricity grew in popularity. | | | | more costly wind farms with their modern |
| Recent environmental concerns have made way for | | | | counterparts. In the early 1980's over 5000 wind |
| the return of wind power, and in its wake came a host | | | | turbines were put in place at the Tehachapi Pass in |
| of myths, mistruths and misunderstandings. This article | | | | California. These days wind farms consist of fewer, |
| aims to dispel some of the common myths of wind | | | | larger wind turbines which have proved not only more |
| power. | | | | cost effective but more attractive on the eye than the |
| Wind turbines are only efficient in high winds | | | | early wind farms which dotted the landscape with |
| This is a common misconception regarding wind | | | | hundreds of smaller wind turbines. |
| turbines. Obviously the more wind there is the more | | | | Home wind turbines are a waste of time and money |
| electricity each wind turbine will generate, but even in a | | | | The smaller home wind turbines are more often than |
| light breeze both large commercial wind turbines and | | | | not used in combination with an array of solar panels. |
| the smaller residential wind turbines will generate an | | | | The wind turbine will continue to charge the batteries |
| acceptable amount of electricity. As the wind speed | | | | through the night even in a light breeze meaning a |
| changes, the angle of the turbines blades will adjust | | | | steady trickle of electricity is potentially available 24 |
| themselves accordingly to achieve maximum | | | | hours a day. Prices of home wind turbines vary |
| efficiency, regardless of wind speed. | | | | depending on the output power and installation cost. A |
| Wind turbines are noisy | | | | small residential wind turbine will reduce an average |
| This may have been true in the past as many early | | | | electricity bill by around 20-35%. Or to put it another |
| wind turbines had no noise emission guidelines to | | | | way, a residential wind turbine would save around half |
| adhere to. Also, wind turbine manufacturers and wind | | | | a ton of CO2 each year. |
| power companies didn't really consider the impact a | | | | Wind farms kill birds |
| large scale wind farm would have on nearby | | | | It is true that a considerable number of birds have |
| residential areas. These early wind turbines are the | | | | flown into the blades of wind turbines and as a result |
| source of the current ‘wind turbines are noisy' | | | | have been injured or even killed. Saying that, it is also |
| myth. Over the last decade wind turbine technology | | | | true that a large number of birds are killed each year |
| had progressed considerably, rendering mechanical | | | | as a result of flying into tall buildings or are hit by cars, |
| noise almost undetectable. | | | | trains, trucks and busses. It is an unfortunate fact that |
| Wind farm planners have strict guidelines to adhere to | | | | human impact on the environment does take its toll on |
| in order to protect nearby residential areas from noise | | | | wildlife to a certain extent; however, wind farms do not |
| emissions. This doesn't mean that wind farms are silent | | | | pose any considerable threat to birds or any other |
| as there is an audible ‘swoosh' as the turbines | | | | form of wildlife. |