One of the most important changes we can all make is to choose to move to green energy. There are many different options available but in this particular Hub we are going to look specifically at wind power. Many people choose to harness the power of the wind to generate electricity and here we hope to answer some of your questions and help you decide if Wind Power is right for you.

Wind turbines harness one of the globes most freely available resources and use it to generate green electricity. You can sign up to a green electricity supplier or even see if your current electricity supplier has a green tariff you can change to, or you can fully embrace the green revolution and generate your own green electricity!

The UK's position on the globe makes it ideally suited to wind power, in fact we have the most suitable climate for utilising renewable energy in all of Europe. This is most commonly done on a commercial scale through the use of wind farms, the first of which was built in November of 1991. By 2007 around 1.5 per cent of Britain's energy was generated by wind, around 4.5 per cent coming from renewable sources. As of May 2009 there are 211 wind farms operating in the UK - that's over 2400 turbines producing over 3000 MW of green electricity.

Wind farms are currently a controversial topic in the UK. The population seems to be devided, with many recognising the need to embrace renewable energy in all its forms, and others who do not wish to see the Great British countryside 'spoiled' buy wind turbines.

Personally I find it a little difficult to identify with these NIMBYs (Not In My Back Yard) as the need for green energy in my opinion far outweighs the importance of the view from their kitchen window! If I may be a little self indulgent for a moment I would like to say that I happen to think that wind turbines are quite beautiful in their own way and the fact that they represent a greener future for our planet is worth infinitely more than their aesthetic properties.

Even the most hardened NIMBY surely has to admit that wind turbines are much more pleasing to the eye than a coal fired power station!

The London Array is a great example of a step in the right direction. It is a joint venture by three international energy companies, E.ON, Masdar and DONG Energy. The array is to be located in the Thames Estuary, around 12 miles off-shore. Once fully operational this wind farm will provide up to 7 per cent of the UK's renewable target of delivering 15.4 per cent of the UK's energy supply from renewable sources by 2015.

• The wind is constantly blowing somewhere, in fact in the UK we are perfectly suited to wind power as we are a very windy little island. Wind is a renewable resource which means it will never run out and there is enough for everyone.

• As wind power doesn't release any dangerous greenhouses gases such as carbon dioxide, it is true green energy and the ideal tool to cut your carbon footprint.

• Wind doesn't cost a penny. Once you have made the initial investment in wind power your electricity bills as well as your carbon emissions will fall. In fact if you are connected to the National Grid the electricity company may start paying you for the excess energy you generate!

• Store your green energy. If you don't have a connection to the national grid, your green electricity can be stored in batteries for use on calm days.

Wind turbines don't have to huge like the ones found on windy hillsides or out to sea. There are two kinds of wind turbine that are suitable for a smaller scale, domestic setting;

• Roof Mounted Wind Turbines - In recent years there has been a large increase in the popularity of 'microwind' - small-scale turbines that sit on the roof of your home or outbuilding, generating enough free electricity for use in your home, often around 1 to 2kW. Microwind turbines tend to generate a few hundred watts of power, this is enough to power your energy saving lights or appliances and any excess energy generated can be stored in batteries for use on a less windy day.

• Mast Mounted Wind Turbines - Also suitable for use in your home are mini-wind turbines. These free standing turbines sit on top of a pole around 5 metres in height and generate 2.5- to 6kW of green electricity and cost around £1000 (with grants) for a fully fitted system. The generated power is stored in batteries and passed through an inverter to make 240AC electricity for use around the home.

If your small scale wind turbines are conected to the National Grid then you can actually make money by selling your unused free, green electricity to the electricity company! If you are not connected to the grid you can of course store your excess power in batteries until you need it.

There are some important questions to consider.

1. Is my area windy enough? For your turbine to be effective you will need windspeeds of a minimum of 5m/s. You can check the windspeed of your location on the BWEA website.
2. Are there any obstacles surrounding my home? Small scale wind power works best in open, exposed areas. Large trees or buildings in the surrounding area could provide a barrier and prevent the wind from driving your turbine.
3. Do you need to get planning permission? Domestic wind turbines generally require planning permission from your local authority. Make sure you check before installing any kind of wind generation system.

Wind Power is the fully revised, expanded edition of Paul Gipe's definitive Wind Power for Home and Business. With informative chapters on what you can expect from wind power in terms of output and economy this book fully breaks down exactly what to expect from your chosen form of wind power generation. A really useful read for anyone keen to embrace green energy.

This book is a really valuable tool for anyone wishing to explore the possibilities of building their own wind turbine. These guys really know what they're talking about and do so in a clever, concise and amusing way. This book truly is a must have.

This book contains all the essential information you could ever need about building your own wind turbine. The author runs a successful wind power business and regularly advises organisations and individuals on wind power, turbines and systems.

This book helps you to answer all the questions you could have about your own small scale wind power system. Assess you energy requirements, your site's wind potential and deals with every aspect of the design, purchase and installation processes. Essential reading.

Now you have your own source of totally green wind energy, you'll want to make the most of it.

• Make sure your electrical appliances are all rated A for energy efficiency, there's not much point in using all your green energy to run one ancient, energy guzzling appliance when the same amount of power could be used to power several efficient items.
• Use energy when the wind is blowing. If it's a particularly windy day, get your laundry done. Not only will you benefit instantly from your home grown wind power, but your washing will be dry almost the instant you put it out on the line, thanks to all that wind - now that's working with nature!
• Charge your batteries up whenever you generate excess electricity for use on days when the wind isn't blowing.

i hope this hub has answered some of your questions about wind power. If you enjoyed reading this then please check out some of my other Hubs;

Vegans will Save The World

Energy Saving Light Bulbs

Green Tips for a Sustainable Lifestyle

Natural Aluminium Free Deodorants