Knowledge is Power: A Review of the Arizona Wind and Solar Workshop

I recently attended the Wind and Solar Power Workshop in Arizona hosted by Mike’s Windmill Shop, where I learned many things. 5 stars is outstanding, 4 is good, 3 is fair, 2 is poor, and 1 star = never again! Read on to find out how the workshop fared in terms of Information, support and performance.

Knowledge really IS power and how it affects us on a daily basis is evident during this hands-on workshop.

3 days full of information, no fluff!

The workshop is designed to allow technicians and non-technicians to have hands-on experience in building not one, but 3 windmills from scratch. By the way, when I say ‘for zero’ this does not mean a kit. These windmills are manufactured and built by hand, with the exception of a few small parts.

Built – Tested – Installed

During the course of the workshop taught by Mike and Joy, we built 3 different wind turbines, tested them, and then installed them at various pole heights and watched the wind take over :). It was quite a spectacle to see and knowing that you had a part in the process was a very special feeling.

Non-techies can build windmills too!

I’ve always considered myself to have a good understanding of mechanical operation, for the most part anyway. Still, there are always areas that I have to read over and over or have a lot of practice to understand. During the workshop, each step of the planning, manufacturing, construction and installation of the wind turbine was explained. Mike is very patient in his teaching methods and by the end of the workshop everyone had a general understanding of the whole process.

Support project

Of course, with projects so involved, questions are likely to come up later as you plan and build your own system. Fear not, Mike’s Windmill Shop offers different levels of support and troubleshooting during the entire project phases!

No tools, no problem!

The construction of wind generators involves a very good variety of tools, both electrical and traditional. While there are ways to make and build the generator by hand, it is certainly time consuming and more frustrating than if power tools were readily available. However, there are situations where people just don’t have the space, time, or tools, but would still like to have a wind generator system. Mike’s Windmill Shop has the solution to that dilemma too!

Fully manufactured, ready to assemble

If you answered ‘yes’ to any of the above scenarios, then a solution is available in the form of fully fabricated, ready-to-assemble wind generators in various sizes for different applications. Wind generators come with complete and detailed instructions. Joy has a lot of experience in helping people figure out which app is best for their situation and can help choose which model is the most appropriate.

Ready, Set, Go?

Assuming you have an existing home and property, it is wise to start small. Do you have a separate “game room”, garden shed, or separate garage / workshop that uses energy and that you use frequently? How about a well house? If so, these are good “starter” scenarios. Plan and build a system to run this small freestanding building.

Always check with local building codes in case there are any guidelines that need to be adhered to, including an electrician to complete the wiring portion. Once the decision has been made on which building is chosen to ‘learn’, check to see if there is a workshop to attend at Mike’s Windmill Shop. If it is not possible to attend a workshop, there is still a lot of information on their website to read and educate yourself before continuing.

If you are planning to build a home and are interested in adding renewable energy options to the mix, or are preparing to completely disconnect from the grid; so attending a workshop is essential in my opinion. The workshop will help not only in the planning phase, but also in the maintenance and troubleshooting phases in the future.

Pieces are pieces …

Maintenance is part of the daily routines of the home; we are all familiar with those scenarios. With a renewable energy system, add inverter and battery troubleshooting along with minor daily maintenance. During the workshop, Mike and Joy provide excellent troubleshooting tips, what-if scenarios, and tips to keep maintenance to a minimum and the system running. Ways to reduce energy consumption by adding some elements and changing others are also discussed.

Information It gets 5 stars for content, useful information and value for money.

Support earns 5 stars before, during and after the workshop, as well as for planning and implementation support and customer service.

Performance gets 5 stars for passing all the workshops I have attended in recent years.

The only problem that some may feel is an inconvenience is the location of the shop in Arizona. However, even that got a lot of stars with me. The workshop could be incorporated into a vacation that is already planned or in process.

For more information about renewable energy, land ships or reducing energy consumption.