How to Calculate the Wind Turbine Size for a House

Many homeowners have turned to renewable energy sources like solar panels and wind turbines to either completely or partially power their homes. Homeowners using wind turbines have many options when purchasing and building a wind turbine. Wind turbines come in a variety or sizes, shapes and diameters. Annual kilowatt-hours are used by homeowners and contractors to determine which size turbine best fits a home's needs. Factors such as average wind speed, blade diameter and home energy use all contribute to the size of turbine needed.

Monthly utility bill
Wind-speed charts

Instructions

- 1
  Determine the amount of energy your home uses per month, in kilowatt-hours. The average home uses roughly 10,000 kilowatt-hours per year, or 830 kilowatt-hours per month. Your monthly electric or utility bill will provide kilowatt-hour figures in monthly and year-to-date form.
- 2
  Research local wind patterns and speeds through local and national weather services. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the National Weather Service catalog and store a large amount of local weather data, including average wind speed and direction.
- 3
  Calculate or research the annual output of a turbine. Swept square footage area, turbine diameter and wind speed determine a turbine's average annual output. Companies provide consumers with the kilowatt average calculation for various models. A turbine producing 10,000 to 50,000 kilowatt-hours per year is considered a residential turbine and meets almost every home's electrical needs.

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