REC's Renewable Energy Rules of Thumb
.jpg "icon_cflbulb_gray") Start with energy efficiency. You can save money and reduce your impact on the environment. Buy efficient appliances and light bulbs.
What resource should I use?
 Geothermal heating and cooling systems provide constant humidity and comfortable temperatures while using only enough electricity to power a blower that sends the warm or cool air throughout the building.
 Hydro is often cost effective but requires running water on your property.
 If you don't have running water on your property, see if you have good wind resource.
 There are many different ways to use solar, from passive space heating to water heating to electricity generation. Often the most cost-effective solar technology is a solar hot water system. Solar electricity is expensive, but prices are dropping.
Resources
If you are interested in pursuing wind, select a frequently asked question below.
Do I have enough wind?
In Pennsylvania, wind resource is strongly related to elevation, so the higher you are in elevation the better the wind resource. Generally properties with 1,500 - 2,000+ of elevation are best suited for wind energy. You can put a wind turbine just about anywhere and it will generate electricity. . .the question is how much and if the result satisfies your financial goals and other desired results.Your annual average wind speed should be at least 10 - 12 miles per hour. To help assess your wind see our wind analysis page, which includes wind maps from PA.
How much will it cost?
A residential wind system can cost as little as $3,000 for a very small turbine or over $50,000 for a system that can fully power your home. Typical installed costs can range from $15,000 - $20,000 for a 1.8 kilowatt turbine to $50,000 - $60,000 for a 10 kilowatt turbine that can power your home. Bear in mind that you do get what you pay for, therefore an inexpensive turbine will not produce significant amounts of electricity. The amount of power you get depends on your resource. Elements of an installed system include the cost of the turbine, the cost of the tower, and the cost of the installation. Do not skimp on the tower height as the taller the tower, the better the resource and the more electricity you will produce.
How much will it save?
How much money you save depends on how much electricity you produce and what your cost of electricity is. You wouldn’t fill a bucket with water if the bucket were full of holes. Before you invest in a renewable energy system, you should make your home as efficient as possible.Efficiency means getting the same benefit with less electricity. For example a laptop computer uses less than half of the electricity as a desktop computer. A compact fluorescent light bulb uses 75% less energy than an incandescent bulb.Conservation refers to your actions, what we call the COPs - cheap, obvious, and profitable: turning things off when not in use unplugging devices that use energy even when they aren’t on lowering your thermostat and water heater when you’re not around. These changes alone can save you 10% - 20% on your energy bills—around $300 dollars a year!The experts at Homepower Magazine claim that every dollar spent on efficiency and conservation will save you three to five dollars on your solar, wind or hydro system. So if you spend $200 to do an extreme green makeover of your home or business—that’s $1,000 you saved on your renewable energy system (because now it doesn’t have to be as large since your energy demand decreased).
What is the process?
1) Determine Resource 2) Wind Map Analysis 3) Installer Site Visit 4) Investment Analysis 5) Permitting 6) Power Purchase Agreement 7) Financing 8) Turbine Procurement 9) Construction 10) Operations and Maintenance
How do I choose an installer?
Visit our Renewable Energy Center's PA Business Directory for tips on this.
Are there financial incentives? Where can I find them?
See our financing page for additional information.
How much land do I need?
Generally speaking, you need at least a 1/2 acre of open land where you can mount the turbine on a tower (though this depends on local zoning and regulations)
What size turbine do I need?
A typical home uses approximately 9400 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity.The size of your turbine depends on your resource, your energy consumption, and how much power you want to produce. Again, invest in energy efficiency first and never skimp on the height of the tower.
Do I need a permit?
This varies by township. Contact your local township office and ask if your township has a residential wind ordinance.
If you are interested in pursuing solar, check out Get Your Power from the Sun (pdf) and Heat your Water with the Sun (pdf) from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.
To Find an Installer visit our Pennsylvania Renewable Energy Business Directory
Want to determine if you have a wind resource? Visit our Pennsylvania Wind Maps
SFU Wind Turbine - We have our own demonstration small wind turbine on campus.
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