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Products and Services
Site Assessments
One of the primary services offered by TheWindWay is the wind resource site
assessment -
TheWindWay assessor will then include their findings in a
written report along with:
A review of your goals for having a wind system
A basic analysis of your energy needs
Recommendations for energy efficiency to help lower your energy needs
An evaluation of the wind resource at your site
Recommendations for a wind system size
Information on the best place to site your system
Estimate of a wind systems output based on your site specifics
A rough cost estimate for the system
An overview of the incentives for which the system may be eligible
Preliminary economic analysis of the system (cost feasibility)
Site assessment reports detailing this information are usually sent to you
within 14 days.
Site Assessment Benefits
A wind site assessment conducted by a trained assessor provides an
opportunity for you to talk with an experienced, objective third party about
the characteristics of your property and to learn about a variety of
equipment and options. Trained site assessors are not selling wind energy
systems, nor will they promote specific equipment, vendors, or installers
during the assessment. They will provide you with an unbiased report that
you can use when you begin talking with vendors about purchasing and
installing a system at your site.
Some vendors and installers offer assessments as part of their service and
will deduct the cost of the assessment from the cost of a system if you buy
a system from them. This arrangement may work if you are comfortable
evaluating the information given to you.
Others will provide you with limited information about your site as part of
the bidding process, at no cost to you. Again this arrangement may work if
you are comfortable evaluating the information given by a vendor during the
selling process. Dont be shy about researching other wind systems beyond
what a vendor recommends. The best system for you is the system that matches
your site and that may not necessarily be the system suggested by a vendor.
Site Assessment Cost
On average, the full cost of a certified site assessment can range between
$300 and $1000. The cost varies depending on the technologies being
assessed, the complexity of the system and site location, as well as travel
cost. When you arrange for an assessment, discuss your expectations with the
assessor so that they can give you an accurate site assessment cost.
Preparing for a site assessment
There are several things you can do to prepare for a site assessment. In
order to fully analyze your site, the assessor may need to inspect your
attic, utility room, garage or basement. In addition the assessor will need
to inspect and photograph your main electrical panel and utility meter.
Making sure these areas are accessible will facilitate the process. The
assessor will also need information about your primary electrical loads such
as appliance age, manufacture, and amount of use. Your assessor may request
to see records of past energy usage in kWh. This can usually be found on
your utility statement. It is not unusual for an assessor to be at your site
for 1 to 3 hours. When arranging for an assessment, ensure you will have
adequate time set aside to allow an assessor to thoroughly evaluate your
site.
What you should know before requesting a site assessment
For every one dollar spent on ensuring your home or business is energy
efficient, saves three to five dollars on the cost of a renewable energy
system. The more efficient your home or business is, the smaller the system
can be to meet your energy needs. Please visit our
energy efficiency page for more
information.
Wind turbines perform best in naturally windy, open, high locations. The
bottom of the turbines blades should be at least 30 feet above any objects
within 500 feet of your tower. This often makes siting a system in urban and
forested areas very difficult. Tower heights of 80 feet to 130 feet are
typical and the tower cost can often exceed the expense of the actual wind
generator. Home wind turbines vary in size from 1 kW to 30 kW. A wind
turbine will depending on actual wind speed and energy needs, generate about
1,300 kWh per year per kW of installed capacity.
Typical home sized systems start at about $12,500 and range up to $100,000.
Typical Business sized systems vary in size from about 20 kW to 100 kW at a cost
range of about $60,000 to $150,000. Turbines of larger sizes are available, all
of the way up to 3MW.
Cost and size figures are intended to give an estimate only. Wind
energy systems size and cost is site specific according to the wind resource
available, energy needs and other information collected on site.
TheWindWay's trained staff will provide you with an unbiased site assessment
report.
To request the cost of a site assessment for your location please send an
email and a company
representative will contact you after reviewing the information provided.
TheWindWay is based in the Chicago metro area and will consider performing wind
site assessments throughout the entire Midwest - Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan,
Indiana, Iowa. We will be able to help you find an assessor who is closer
to you, so please contact us today.
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