| There is a general push in recent years to research | | | | quadrupled across the world. Globally, countries had |
| and develop alternative energy sources. Two of the | | | | the capacity to generate more than 70,000 |
| main options are solar and wind power. Both are | | | | megawatts last year. To put this into perspective, a |
| effective as renewable energy sources. This article | | | | single megawatt is enough to power approximately |
| focuses on wind power and gives 10 quick facts about | | | | 250 homes. |
| wind-generated electricity. | | | | 7. Germany is the most wind-powered country. |
| 1. The utilization of wind power has been around for | | | | Following Germany, is Spain, the US, India, and |
| over 900 years. Ruins of vertical wind tower bases | | | | Denmark. |
| were found in France that dated back to 1150. | | | | 8. California generates the most wind power in the |
| 2. Large wind turbines can generate enough electricity | | | | United States. America as a hole generates around 17 |
| to supply around 600 homes. These types of windmills | | | | billion kilowatts of electricity every year. |
| are usually placed in areas of high wind activity usually | | | | 9. Generating enough wind power for your home can |
| tens but sometimes hundreds at a time. | | | | make you money. A typical residential home uses |
| 3. A small windmill can generate enough electricity to | | | | around 10,000 kilowatts every year. If your windmill |
| supply a single home or small business. The amount of | | | | generates excess electricity, the power company will |
| power generated depends on wind activity and the | | | | buy that electricity from you. This only works if your |
| length of the blades, but at the very least a windmill | | | | windmill is tied to your main power line. |
| can help to reduce power costs. | | | | 10. Wind power is actually a type of solar power. Wind |
| 4. Vertical windmills generate 50% more electricity than | | | | is generated as the atmosphere of the earth is heated |
| horizontal windmills. This is because vertical wind | | | | and cooled. As these hot and cold regions meet, it |
| turbines are able to catch wind in any direction, not just | | | | causes air to move. |
| in the one that the windmill is pointed at. | | | | Wind power is mainstay in terms of renewable energy |
| 5. A complaint about windmills is that the blades kill | | | | alternatives. As more research is done and it becomes |
| birds and other flying animals, but more animals die | | | | cheaper to install a windmill, it will become imperative |
| from running into cars, power lines, and high-rise | | | | for residences and businesses to implement this |
| buildings than from getting caught in a wind turbine. | | | | technology to become more environmentally friendly, |
| 6. From 2000 to 2006, the number windmills has | | | | but also economically more sound. |