PV Gap

Henry Said:

Does Earth4Energy Really Work?

We Answered:

I have a writeup on this scam here http://www.nlcpr.com/Deceptions6.html

You can build a windmill at home from scratch, but it is *not* trivial. The best book is:

Homebrew Wind Power
A HANDS-ON GUIDE TO HARNESSING THE WIND
Dan Bartmann & Dan Fink
Foreword by Mick Sagrillo

ISBN: 978-0-9819201-0-8
Published by Buckville Publications LLC

This book is complete. You don't need anything else for small scale wind power.

As far as making your own solar panels, forget it. It is the cells that are expensive, and assembling them yourself into panels will save you very little. You also need batteries, inverter, charge controller and other components.

A typical system that could power your household needs (provided you cook and heat with gas), will cost about $30,000 before incentives. This is a major investment, and you will be lucky if it pays off in a decade.

Currently, alternate energy is more like an expensive hobby. This will change, but we have a long, long way to go.