DIY windpower?

A new trend with windpower is horizontal installations in big city centers on the tops of buildings. According to the New York Times, these installations "supply power directly to homes without first sending it through a utility company’s lines" but rely on unpredictable wind sources. Costs and benefits: "The turbines, which collectively cost $100,000, could halve the annual utility bill for the common spaces, to $9,000 from $18,000, Mr. Bluestone said." Usually these projections are optimistic and I would like to see what the real payback is. At any rate it is along the order of a capital investment. If you are thinking about doing this yourself, note that the technology continues to improve, and that "roof-mounted turbines, which can be heavy and produce steady vibrations, might perform poorly on rickety buildings." However, incentives are available now: "the wind industry received a boost in October when a provision in the Troubled Assets Relief Program bailout bill created a one-time 30 percent tax credit for the installation costs for homeowners. No credit had existed since 1985...but the new credit is capped at $4,000."

Solar hot water heating is more efficient and should be one of the first things you consider for your home after simple conservation, and insulating and crack sealing. Wind power, unless you just want the cool factor, should be further down on your list.