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When we put our first homemade wind generator we had no neighbors to contend with, but now it seems that we will have neighbors who live very close to us. This has brought up the question, “What will the neighbors think of us having a wind generator on our property?”
There are really three issues at work here, one is being a good neighbor, the second is insurance and the other is political in nature. Let’s deal with the issue of being a good neighbor first.
This may differ from rural to urban areas, but these suggestions are tried and true and tested over years with not only our family but also with several other families across the world who have consulted us about this very problem. At first we did not know what to tell them, but after a bit of time we have gotten to the real issues and know what to do.
How To Build A Wind Generator Picture 1As this photo suggests, when you set out to build a wind generator you may have neighbors who are very close to you.
The first rule of being a good neighbor is communication before you construct a project such as building a wind generator that could influence the enjoyment of your neighbor’s property. So let’s go talk with the neighbors. Let’s see who is in favor and who is not. If you don’t know some of your neighbors this is a good way to meet them.
Keep it simple and ask for their co-operation with your project. Invite them to help you and share in the experience and encourage them to build a wind generator too. Show them pictures of what the project is going to look like too, a picture is worth a thousand words, how true.
We have even seen neighbors form little co-operative groups to build the first one and then set up a schedule so that everyone has one too.
This brings up the ideal of conformity with some neighborhoods. The bylaws of a community sometimes are set out so that conformity is the rule.
Next, comes insurance and this can be a big one if you handle it wrong. The main stipulation in property insurance is public liability. This means that no one else who lives outside of your property is ever going to be hurt if your wind generator should fall (say in a hurricane for example). By the way, we have had several of our designed wind generators survive category 4 hurricanes without a scratch. Just follow the rules of good tower construction and take precautions when storms hit.
Build A Wind Generator – Insurance Issues picture
Back to insurance, again communicate with your insurance agent, most are well versed in this sort of thing. They can tell you how your coverage will change, and what you have to do to make sure your insurance is kept in good standing. We have never heard of one case where the insurance has risen because of building a wind generator either.
Lastly, let’s deal with the politics of wind generators. There is a growing movement of naysayers who think wind generators, and mostly they are concerned with those 300 foot monster wind farms that are springing up all over. They will tell you they are an environmental hazard, killing birds and causing all sorts of health problems.
The truth is that there is no real documented proof that large wind generators cause any ill health in people. We have seen birds hit one, but every year we have a few birds that run into our house windows too and don’t make it. Anytime humans build anything in the natural environment it affects the surroundings, the goal is to lessen that impact.
You may also have to deal with your municipal government who may want a simple building permit or they may have some height restrictions that you have to follow. Either way, contact them first.
The most bizarre report we have ever heard of is near where we grew up, in the Pt. Burwell (on lake Erie) wind farm area. A friend of ours wanted to put up a simple homemade wind generator in his back yard in town, which was within sight of the wind farm, one of the big wind turbines was actually only about one half mile away.
But the municipal council denied his application for almost a year before he showed them several projects to see what it was all about. It seems they understood the building of 67 huge wind turbines for the communiHomemade Wind Generator- What Will The Neighbors Say? pic 1ty power needs, but not some guy who wanted to build his own and power his home. The neighbors were all for it, and wanted to learn how they could do a similar project, so the council ultimately relented, after some intervention from the staff here.
You see the Mayor of the township, who denied the application is actually my uncle. We are quite close and when he mentioned what was going on I took about an hour to explain how it would improve his community and how it would be a great reflection on him if he were to allow the application.
The next monday morning, our good friend got a personal visit from the mayor with the signed and approved application in hand. A few pictures were taken with the local politicians for the newspaper and all was well.
Thankfully, these stories are few and far between. But if you should ever come up against the political wheels and they need a bit of greasing, just let us know, we have faced many such situations.
The bottom line, before you decide to build a wind generator of your own, is to talk to the neighbors and public officials before you do so, you’ll be glad you did.
