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We all know that we need to make a serious and concerted effort to save energy and reduce our carbon foot print. Whilst renewable technologies are very worthwhile, small scale domestic wind turbines should only be installed in the right circumstances. Recommendations are that you should make all the smaller improvememts to the energy efficiency of your home as possible first: high efficiency condensing boiler; cavity wall insulation (if possible); loft insulation; space and water heating controls; low energy light bulbs etc. These improvements all deliver great energy savings and deliver carbon and financial savings. They are also relatively cheap with reasonable pay back periods. Visit the EST (link below for more details). Renewables are fantastic and very worthwhile but a relatively fledgling industry, in which mor development and investmemt is needed. If you are very keen to install a wind turbine the two biggest factors for you to consider are: a) planning permission, this is currently required before you install one and b) the average wind speed in your area. I think the minimum wind speed required before you can make gains that are worth it is 12mps, the average urban wind speed in the UK is around 5mps I think...may need to check the figures but the average wind speed in most urban/suburban areas is much lower than that required to generate adequate power. My advice is to invest in other energy efficiency measures first, recycle, compost and use cars less (if you have one), simple action and chnages in lifestyle can make a big difference. Your local energy efficiency advice centre shouold be able to assist and advise you too. Their contacts details are on the EST's website, link below. Other small scale renewables maybe more suitable such as solar thermal hot water, but again they are best suited in certain circumstances. Good luck with what you decide.

We get stronger winds than that in the middle of summer,so it should be able to produce power most of the time,but ,more importantly,how would it cope with the 80,90,and 100 miles per hour winds we get every winter?

None of them will work very well in central Texas because at night when u need the power the wind stops at night or is very slow. So it will not even light the lights.

To the contrary they are coming up with ways that prevent bird death from happening, unlike the air ports that like placed that jet in the hudson the other day, they have more cannons and ( they only make a loud bang to make the birds flee to other safe areas, thought about this as I asked my brother_in_law, who works for Nassau on the space shuttle in Florida

On a good day it will produce enough to power a hairdrier, on a bad day nothing. AND the council will put up your council tax and that's a fact.

i dont think you will die from hunger if you dont have a B&Q

and as for wind turbines not working in texas at night ..get solar panels :) they store electric

they cost £1,200......it`ll be 8 yrs till you make a profit on it..

NO BUT WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE