13 WTHR - Indianapolis News |Save money with alternative energy use

Save money with alternative energy use

Tim 'Treeboy' Bush/Eyewitness News

The days are getting hotter and air conditioning is expensive, but alternative energy use may be one way to save some cash down the road. Treeboy paid a visit to the state fairgrounds with a look at some alternative energy options, such as windmills that may be used to power people's homes someday.

"This is designed to be used in a residential setting," Eric Burch, Office of Energy Development, said. "It's made that it might even provide 90% of the power your home might need, assuming it was running all the time."

Burch said that in most cases the power has to be used immediately, but there are battery storage kits that can accompany certain kinds of wind turbines. Asked if he envisioned neighborhoods or individual homes having turbine-powered energy, Burch said both concepts are possible.

"It eventually would be a free source of power, although it's not really cost effective now for most residential uses."

And that cost is what could keep people from using windmills in their residences, at least for a while. Burch said it could cost anywhere from $20,000-$50,000 to install a wind turbine.

"It will take a few years to pay off, but then after that point in time it is contributing to reducing your energy usage."

During this year's State Fair in August, visitors will be able to go to the Normandy Barn area to see all types of alternative energy sources available.