Windmills have been around for centuries, and come in all shapes and sizes. They have all sorts of purposes, but they all use the energy of the wind. Some power grinding stones, some power electric generators and some power water pumps. It wasn’t long ago that many rural farms used windmill energy to power water pumps. But the price of energy is on the rise and global pollution and energy conservation are a constant concern.  Thus, many are looking to windmill energy to help bridge the gap between what we have now and what we will need in the future, while sustaining the planet for future generations.

The most common type of windmill is the HAWT, which stands for horizontal axis wind turbine. These types of windmills must face into the wind to be effective. The other type of windmill is the VAWT, or vertical axis wind turbine. There are several different sub-categories of this type of windmill, but they all generally work like a sail. The blades of the windmill catch the wind as it blows like a sail on a boat, so it doesn’t need to be facing the wind. There are pros and cons to each type of windmill depending on the application of it.

There is a developing trend toward living “greener”. But it can be expensive to erect a windmill. With a little research you can find information about windmills that you can build yourself. One website (www.off-grid-living.com/wind/homemade-wind-generators) claims you can build your windmill for less than 100 dollars. I’d caution against claims that seem too good to be true, but as time goes on, energy prices soar, and the environment continues to suffer, windmill energy will meet with a revival.