Although wind power generators have been around for over a hundred years, it never quite caught on. It's still not a mainstream source of power today but soaring energy costs and the eco-effects of conventional energy waste of late have forced a surge of interests in alternative renewable energy. Along with solar power panels, windmills can now be seen mushrooming across the country and have proven to be a viable source of energy as long as the territory is endowed with the required natural conditions.

As depicted in the name, the function of wind power generators is to produce power by utilizing the wind as fuel. This is obviously beneficial as wind is natural, free and unlimited in supply. Having that said, it is not always feasible or viable. For example, the wind resource in the locality must be of a certain level and the wind tower or structure must not pose any detriment to the surrounding. And are they cost-effective over the conventional form of power?

The operation of the wind power generator can be simplistically described within the theory of the Conservation of Energy. Kinetic energy of the wind or airflow is harnessed by the rotor blades into mechanical energy as the spindle is turned. The rotary force of the spindle is utilized in windmills to drive pumps and other mechanical systems directly or is further converted via a turbine into electrical energy. This power can be consumed on the fly or stored for later use.

A wind power home is a noble proposition these days but there are criteria to be fulfilled. Ideally, the house sits on a good-sized plot in a relatively spaced-out rural or sub-urban neighborhood. Surrounding wind resource is steady and even. The tower height of the wind system is functionally adequate and is in compliance with building requirements, along with other neighborhood aspects such as noise, endangerment and other hazards or inconveniences. The local supply grid also supports the interconnection of excess power for reverse credit or sale.

Even with the advancement of technology in this field, it is hardly practical to live off-grid with wind power as the sole source of power for your home. No matter what, the elements will never be 100 percent predictable and that's why it's most suitably used as a mutually complementary source of energy with solar power which will also endure crunch spells. Nevertheless, it's greatly beneficial even if it's deployed only as a supplementary supply to the power grid.

It's not rocket science to make wind power. There is plenty of information and literature at your finger tips over the internet. A handful of those DIY handbooks actually do a very neat job in guiding even the totally uninitiated to construct their own wind power generators from scratch. It's possible to not only slash your power bills but also get paid for the excess that is channeled back onto the utility grid. On top of that, there's the feeling of gratification from knowing that you have contributed to the green movement.

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