Small Wind Turbines On The Roof? No Way!

Should a small wind turbine be mounted on the roof of your home?

More and more manufacturers of home wind turbine kits and plans advocate mounting these units on your roof. That is so you can take advantage of the wind power generation technology without the expense and, some would say, unsightly nature of larger wind turbine towers.

However, there are several limitations that you must consider that may make the roof mount just too good to be true:

1. Lack of available wind

While it is seductive to think about generating electricity by simply putting a small wind turbine up on your roof, the wind that's up there isn't always best suited for powering a windmill.

The wind at that height encounters a great deal of interference from trees and other buildings, causing turbulence.

Wind Energy experts say to mount your wind turbine at least 30 feet ABOVE the tree line. That is because that puts the turbine in the best position to harvest non-turbulent wind.

2. Stresses on your roof

The weight of your small wind turbine can be well over 200 pounds. When the windmill is attached to the roof structure, it will place stresses on the underlying roof when the wind blows. Especially, in gusts.

Those stresses can pull at the substructure and damage your roof. Your home is a valuable investment, so be very careful what you mount on it.

3. Neighborhood conflict

A lot of folks just don't like to look at small wind turbines mounted on a roof. That sentiment is stated clearly in the neighborhood bylaws.


Thoroughly check out local ordinances that may impact your ability to mount a small wind turbine on your roof.

The idea that an army of small wind turbine can be deployed and solve the energy crisis is quite appealing and makes for a good story.

However, larger wind turbines are more economically viable at the moment.

With the government's current 30% income tax credit though, more and more people will buy smaller wind generators and the prices will come down over time.

The wind technology still needs to become more cost effective and made out of lighter material. And, the price needs to drop a lot to compensate for the potential damage to roofs and low energy production before small wind turbines can be mounted there effectively.


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Roger G. Brown has saved countless companies money on their power bills. Check out Roger's tips on how to save money AND learn how to get a Wind Tax Credit