So I’ve been thinking about green energy for a while now, and I’ve been primarily focusing on energy from wind. Yes, wind power. I did a little research, and here’s what I found:

• In essence, wind energy is a “converted form of solar energy,” because wind is created through the sun heating up the earth at various rates and locations. Never thought about it like this, huh?

• In the last four years, the wind energy capacity in the United States has grown by an average of 32%. This is both exciting and comforting. First of all, our technology and our efforts to create cleaner energy are both growing at a high rate. What’s more, because the energy created is through the wonders of wind, there is no need for us to worry about a shortage as long as the wind keeps blowing.

• Electricity sources in the U.S. are as follows: Coal (52%), Natural Gas (16%), Oil (3%), Nuclear (20%), and Hydropower (7%). This shows that wind power has just started picking up momentum, but we are still relying largely on foreign oil. I have to say, I don’t like this.

• Oil prices are determined primarily by OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries), but the price of wind power is determined by the manufacturers (by means of capitalism) and by the amount of wind we get.

• Having a wind turbine at your house can cut electricity costs. I guess it depends on where you are and what kind of wind turbine you have, but since it doesn’t take any money to have the wind create energy, it obviously does cut electricity costs.

Sources: American Wind Energy Association

I did some more researching, and this is what I found (It’s a little obvious, but it’s good to have the numbers, right?):

Buying a wind turbine and having people install it for your can cost a lot of money. On Bergey.com, they promote a “Value Package” deal for $38,000. You can check this out right here. (Note: You can get to the “Value Package” deal by clicking on the link on the left of the site.) I’m sure it’s worth every penny, being a way to contribute to cutting down the pollution in the world and saving money on the use of electricity.

At the same time, though, that’s a lot of money.  So I did a bit more researching and found this e-guide from HomeMadeEnergy.com. It’s a guide that teaches you how to build homemade solar panels and wind turbines for cheap.

This guide teaches its readers how to build a solar panel for as little as $200, and a wind turbine for as little as $100! While the prices of materials that you’ll buy will be different according to your location and the costs at the hardware store, but compared to the “Value Package” that costs $38,000, building your own wind turbine for about $100, give or take a few, is an amazing deal. Check out the site here: Home Made Energy

The Home Made Energy website gives all of the benefits and the features of this awesome e-guidebook. I love the guy on the video with his southern accent. Also, the data concerning the U.S. energy sources on this site differs from what I got from the American Wind Energy Association, but the main point is that over 90% of the energy used in the states does not come from renewable energy sources.

Peter, (The other guy that writes in this blog) obviously cares more about saving money than about the concerns of this earth. I’m a little bit of both, and I think that HomeMadeEnergy.com leads a way to saving money and going green.

If you’re serious about creating your own energy through the sun or with wind power, you should definitely buy the e-guidebook on HomeMadeEnergy.com.

Go green and save money with wind power and solar energy!