Wind, currently the most efficient form of alternative energy may be making strides to compete with solar in consumer markets. Several companies are popping up with small wind turbine structures and features. They are proving fairly inexpensive and in some regions very viable.
Pros- inexpensive relative to solar, some subsides, pay for themselves in roughly 6-10 years, very efficient, and there will be some major strides in their efficiency in the near future.
Cons- appearance, regional limitations, hight issues(wind typically stronger around 100 feet above ground surface, and less subsidies than solar.
Overall, this is in my opinion the future! Only real concern is my continued with all renewable energy technologies; if you don’t use it you loose it. Home battery systems work for smaller projects, but for homes with major energy demands batteries currently are not the answer.
If interested check out http://www.ecobusinesslinks.com/small_wind_generators_turbines_manufacturers.htm they have an entire list of companies.
Also, a lot of the windmills I have seen are fairly large and are simply mini versions of industrial sized wind turbines. They should be smaller with more blades. Electrical current functions best with higher RPM, thus smaller, faster rotating blades are more efficient. Check out this article. It articulates what I am trying to say very effectively. http://www.nov55.com/wdm.html
