A wind turbine, like an old-fashioned windmill, captures kinetic energy from the wind and uses it for another purpose. Today, the energy is converted to electricity. Large wind turbines are positioned on the top of tall towers built in favorable locations, and they harvest large amounts of electricity. A home wind turbine is a much smaller version that generates enough electricity for household use.

Typically, the home does not rely entirely on the energy produced by a home wind turbine. If wind speeds are low, the home wind turbine will not generate electricity, so most homes are also connected to a local utility service. When wind speeds are very high and the home wind turbine generates more electricity than the household needs, the extra power can be sold to the utility company. Although it is possible to store electricity in batteries, most home wind turbine systems do not store it.

In most cases, a home wind turbine should be placed at least 30 feet (9 m) higher than any nearby object. Usually small towers are installed with a home wind turbine. Homeowners should check all local ordinances before purchasing one.

Use of a home wind turbine usually reduces a home electricity bill from 50 to 90 per cent. Long-term savings depend on a many factors. A house located in areas with high average wind speed will obtain more electricity from a home wind turbine than one in area with light breezes. An all-electric home can use more of the electricity from a home wind turbine than one that also uses other kinds of power. Installation costs vary, but a home wind turbine usually pays for itself in six to 15 years.

Installing a home wind turbine is good for the environment. It produces no pollution and reduces demand for electricity produced by methods that do pollute. A home wind turbine does create some noise, but it is not extremely noisy. Many kinds of home wind turbine never get noisier than 35 decibels.