What is my Average Wind Speed?
The answer to this question requires some homework on your part. Here is how to proceed: A. Household Consumption: Check several of your household or facility electric utility bills (ideally, the bills for a one year period) for the quality of energy you use per month. This energy consumption number will be expressed in kilowatt-hours(kWh). B. Average wind speed: Get a general idea of the average wind speed in your local area. Here are two ways to find this information: • Online wind maps from the U.S. Dept of Energy’s Wind & Hydropower Technology Program: www.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro/windpoweringamerica/wind_maps.asp (click on your state’s outline). • Other online wind maps links are available here. • Local airports often measure and record average wind speeds. Since the care that is taken to properly site anemometers varies greatly from airport to airport, it is suggested to view the location of the airport anemometer to be certain that it is mounted at least 30′ in the air (and
