The Site Assessment
Wind site assessments are designed to provide customers with site specific information about how a wind system can help meet your energy needs. During a site assessment a trained wind energy assessor will visit and evaluate your site, answer your questions, summarize different systems, tower options, and the construction process. Request a site assessment quote

The assessor will then include their findings in a written report along with:
• A review of your goals for having a wind system
• A basic analysis of your energy needs
• Recommendations for energy efficiency to help lower your energy needs
• An evaluation of the wind resource at your site
• Recommendations for a wind system size
• Information on the best place to site your system
• Estimate of a wind systems output based on your site specifics
• A rough cost estimate for the system
• An overview of the incentives for which the system may be eligible
• Preliminary economic analysis of the system (cost feasibility)
• Site assessment reports detailing this information are usually sent to you within 14 days.

Site Assessment Benefits
A wind site assessment conducted by a certified assessor provides an opportunity for you to talk with an experienced, objective third party about the characteristics of your property and to learn about a variety of equipment and options. Certified site assessors are not selling wind energy systems, nor will they promote specific equipment, vendors, or installers during the assessment. They will provide you with an unbiased report that you can use when you begin talking with vendors about purchasing and installing a system at your site.
Some vendors and installers offer assessments as part of their service and will deduct the cost of the assessment from the cost of a system if you buy a system from them. This arrangement may work if you are comfortable evaluating the information given to you.

Others will provide you with limited information about your site as part of the bidding process, at no cost to you. Again this arrangement may work if you are comfortable evaluating the information given by a vendor during the selling process. Don’t be shy about researching other wind systems beyond what a vendor recommends. The best system for you is the system that matches your site and that may not necessarily be the system suggested by a vendor.

Site Assessment Cost
On average, the full cost of a certified site assessment can range between $300 and $1000. The cost varies depending on the technologies being assessed, the complexity of the system and site location, as well as travel cost. When you arrange for an assessment, discuss your expectations with the assessor so that they can give you an accurate site assessment cost.

Preparing for a site assessment
There are several things you can do to prepare for a site assessment. In order to fully analyze your site, the assessor may need to inspect your attic, utility room, garage or basement. In addition the assessor will need to inspect and photograph your main electrical panel and utility meter. Making sure these areas are accessible will facilitate the process. The assessor will also need information about your primary electrical loads such as appliance age, manufacture, and amount of use. Your assessor may request to see records of past energy usage in kwh. This can usually be found on your utility statement. It is not unusual for an assessor to be at your site for 1 to 3 hours. When arranging for an assessment, ensure you will have adequate time set aside to allow an assessor to thoroughly evaluate your site.

What you should know before requesting a site assessment
For every one dollar spent on ensuring your home or business is energy efficient, saves three to five dollars on the cost of a renewable energy system. The more efficient your home or business is, the smaller the system can be to meet your energy needs.

Wind turbines perform best in naturally windy, open, high locations. The bottom of the turbines blades should be at least 30 feet above any objects within 500 feet of your tower. This often makes siting a system in urban and forested areas very difficult. Tower heights of 80 feet to 130 feet are typical and the tower cost can often exceed the expense of the actual wind generator. Home wind turbines vary in size from 1kw to 30kw. A wind turbine will depending on actual wind speed and energy needs, generate about 1,300 kwh per year per kw of installed capacity. Typical home sized systems start at about $12,500 and range up to $100,000. Typical Business sized systems vary in size from about 20kw to 100kw at a cost range of about $60,000 to $150,000. Cost and size figures are intended to give an estimate only. Wind energy systems size and cost is site specific according to the wind resource available, energy needs and other information collected on site.

Wind Power Services LLC trained staff will provide you with an unbiased site assessment report. To request the cost of a site assessment for your location please complete the questionnaire and a company representative will contact you after reviewing the information provided.

Request a site assessment quote