Residential Small Wind Turbines Survey

The picture below is a 2.4kW wind turbine installed in the backyard of a Mission District home in SF. It generates on average 400 kWh of power a month. A standard 3 bedroom house in SF typically will not use more than 400 kWh of electricity in summer. The installed cost of this system roughly costs $28,000 before incentives. With Federal and State incentives, you may only need to pay 50% of the cost. Depending on where your house is located, the same turbine will have slightly different performance.

1. Do you think it is a good idea to independently generate power for your own use?

Do you think it is a good idea to independently generate power for your own use?

2. What is your monthly electricity bill in summer and winter? Where is your house located?

What is your monthly electricity bill in summer and winter? Where is your house located?

3. Your interest in a renewable energy is due to its promise of ____________. Please rank these reasons from 1 (most important) to 5 (least important).

	Most Important		Important		Least Important
Environmental protection	*Your interest in a renewable energy is due to its promise of ____________. Please rank these reasons from 1 (most important) to 5 (least important). Environmental protection Most Important	Environmental protection	Environmental protection Important	Environmental protection	Environmental protection Least Important
Reduction in energy use	Reduction in energy use Most Important	Reduction in energy use	Reduction in energy use Important	Reduction in energy use	Reduction in energy use Least Important
Low carbon footprint	Low carbon footprint Most Important	Low carbon footprint	Low carbon footprint Important	Low carbon footprint	Low carbon footprint Least Important
Increase of property value	Increase of property value Most Important	Increase of property value	Increase of property value Important	Increase of property value	Increase of property value Least Important
Personal interest	Personal interest Most Important	Personal interest	Personal interest Important	Personal interest	Personal interest Least Important

4. How interested are you in considering wind as your choice to power your home?

	Not interested at all	Somewhat interested	Interested	Very Interested
Interest Level	*How interested are you in considering wind as your choice to power your home? Interest Level Not interested at all	Interest Level Somewhat interested	Interest Level Interested	Interest Level Very Interested

5. Please evaluate each reason for NOT installing a wind turbine. Base your answers on a scale of 1-5. 1 being MAJOR reason NOT to install, 5 being MINOR reason NOT to install.

	Major Reason NOT to Install				Minor Reason NOT to Install
Safety concerns	*Please evaluate each reason for NOT installing a wind turbine. Base your answers on a scale of 1-5. 1 being MAJOR reason NOT to install, 5 being MINOR reason NOT to install. Safety concerns Major Reason NOT to Install	Safety concerns	Safety concerns	Safety concerns	Safety concerns Minor Reason NOT to Install
Noise	Noise Major Reason NOT to Install	Noise	Noise	Noise	Noise Minor Reason NOT to Install
Structural concerns	Structural concerns Major Reason NOT to Install	Structural concerns	Structural concerns	Structural concerns	Structural concerns Minor Reason NOT to Install
Neighborhood concerns	Neighborhood concerns Major Reason NOT to Install	Neighborhood concerns	Neighborhood concerns	Neighborhood concerns	Neighborhood concerns Minor Reason NOT to Install
Aesthetics of turbines	Aesthetics of turbines Major Reason NOT to Install	Aesthetics of turbines	Aesthetics of turbines	Aesthetics of turbines	Aesthetics of turbines Minor Reason NOT to Install
Low power production	Low power production Major Reason NOT to Install	Low power production	Low power production	Low power production	Low power production Minor Reason NOT to Install
Danger for birds	Danger for birds Major Reason NOT to Install	Danger for birds	Danger for birds	Danger for birds	Danger for birds Minor Reason NOT to Install
Permitting process	Permitting process Major Reason NOT to Install	Permitting process	Permitting process	Permitting process	Permitting process Minor Reason NOT to Install
Product reliability	Product reliability Major Reason NOT to Install	Product reliability	Product reliability	Product reliability	Product reliability Minor Reason NOT to Install
Costs	Costs Major Reason NOT to Install	Costs	Costs	Costs	Costs Minor Reason NOT to Install
Not enough wind	Not enough wind Major Reason NOT to Install	Not enough wind	Not enough wind	Not enough wind	Not enough wind Minor Reason NOT to Install

Other (please specify)

6. What federal and state incentives are you aware of that are available for small wind installation?

What federal and state incentives are you aware of that are available for small wind installation?

7. Were you aware that there is plenty of wind in the Bay Area and in some areas a small wind system performs better than solar panels?

Were you aware that there is plenty of wind in the Bay Area and in some areas a small wind system performs better than solar panels? Yes

8. Many people use payback time period (the period of time it takes to recover your original investment) to evaluate their reason for investing in renewable energies. For example, if you paid $20,000 for a wind turbine, and you are saving $100/month on your electricity bill, it will take you 192 months (16 years) to recover your initial investment. Do you think this is reasonable investment?

Many people use payback time period (the period of time it takes to recover your original investment) to evaluate their reason for investing in renewable energies. For example, if you paid $20,000 for a wind turbine, and you are saving $100/month on your electricity bill, it will take you 192 months (16 years) to recover your initial investment. Do you think this is reasonable investment? Yes

if not, what would be helpful to make it an attractive investment for you?

9. What concerns, if any, do you have if many urban residents install the wind systems in their backyard or rooftop?

What concerns, if any, do you have if many urban residents install the wind systems in their backyard or rooftop?

Residential Small Wind Turbines
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1. Wind Turbine Survey

Residential Small Wind TurbinesExit this survey

1. Wind Turbine Survey

Residential Small Wind Turbines
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