ELECTRICITY FROM RENEWABLE ENERGY

Renewable electricity is being produced by 36 solar panels that follow the sun direction automatically.  The panels are capable of making 5.8 Kilowatts per hour (KWH) but actually produce an average of 19 KWH of electricity per day.

Renewable electricity is also being produced by a 10KWH wind turbine which averages 16.5 KWH of electricity daily.  The turbine begins turning at a wind speed of 7 MPH and will turn out of the wind if the wind speed is too fast.  It sits on a 100-foot tower and is 32 feet in diameter.

Our solar and wind systems are sized to produce the same amount of electricity as we use.  Our home is located in Northeast Iowa and is 3,100 square feet with a partially-heated 2 1/2 car garage and full basement.  The average American home uses 35 KWH per day, while our home uses 13 KWH.  Our home's heating and air conditioning system uses an average of 23 KWH per day, 1/3rd the amount used by a traditional electric heated home.  Our farming operation averages another 8 KWH per day for supplying water to livestock.

We save electricity by using energy-saving appliances and fluorescent lighting and by overriding household conveniences and remote controls with on/off switches.