[yellowsnow]

Is this a possibility? Would it be likely that a couple small windmills in my backyard would provide enough power for my pool filter?

[ClarkGrisowld]

I didn't think the wind blew consistently enough here for windmills.

And, seriously, why would you want such a monstrosity in your backyard (I realize you are probably talking a very small one, but still) unless you have a few acres?

I think in Vegas solar is undoubtedly the way to go.

[airics]

if you are talking for the pool, its been said time and time again that solar is NOT the way to go.. it adds a month on either side.. and for the cost... and if i remember correctly i was laughed (typed) at for the cost of my heater for the pool.. i bought a 1yr old maxitherm by pentair and had it installed for a total of 1800. no solar comes close to that! we were swimming on new years eve.

[bledsoe3]

Originally Posted by airics

we were swimming on new years eve.

I should have be swimming on NYE. Instead I was drowning at the tables.

[yellowsnow]

I have solar for my pool heat and it works quite well. The pool gets too hot in the summer.

I was talking about running the filter. Small windmills like they have on sailboats for power. Something cheap. Solar panels are a great idea and I would love to do that but it's just too expensive.

[Kaiminani]

I briefly looked into wind power in vegas and noted a bunch of hoohaw about permits not being available to anyone with less than an acre or so. I didn't follow up in depth so there may be more to the story.

One general problem with wind power is that you have to get the turbine up pretty high because the closer you are to the ground, the more turbulence there is and turbulence kills efficiency.

[MediocreButArrogant]

I think you underestimate how big a wind turbine has to be to generate significant amounts of energy.

We have a bunch of these at work:

Windspire Turbine: Affordable Home Wind Power

This is in the SF Bay Area, so we get strong thermal winds from spring to early fall from cold air on the coast rushing in to replace hot rising air in the central valley.

They're 30 feet tall, four feet in diameter, and we have them mounted 60 feet off the ground. Think your HOA is going to approve that? And each one generates 1.2kW in a 25mph wind. My pool pump on high speed is 2hp so that's well over 2000 watts when you factor in motor efficiency and conversion efficiency.

[Buzz123]

I know absolutely nothing about windmill power, but I do know that there are still windmills in the area on ranches, and ranchettes, to pump water. Before all the growth took over most of the old ranches, there were lots more of them round the valley, and you see them all over Nevada. We certainly have more wind than states back east, and some of them are going to wind power. Isn't Harry promising windpower, as well as solar power, for Nevada? Personally I'll hate to see it.

[yellowsnow]

Originally Posted by MediocreButArrogant

I think you underestimate how big a wind turbine has to be to generate significant amounts of energy.

We have a bunch of these at work:

Windspire Turbine: Affordable Home Wind Power

This is in the SF Bay Area, so we get strong thermal winds from spring to early fall from cold air on the coast rushing in to replace hot rising air in the central valley.

They're 30 feet tall, four feet in diameter, and we have them mounted 60 feet off the ground. Think your HOA is going to approve that? And each one generates 1.2kW in a 25mph wind. My pool pump on high speed is 2hp so that's well over 2000 watts when you factor in motor efficiency and conversion efficiency.

No HOA here so that's not an issue. I looked at the windspire and they aren't even ugly. Do they make a lot of noise?

[airics]

Originally Posted by yellowsnow

I have solar for my pool heat and it works quite well. The pool gets too hot in the summer.

But if you wanted to go swimming tonight, could you? That's the main difference..