What is Wind Power?

Wind power is useful energy that comes from transforming the kinetic energy (energy of motion) of the wind. People have used windmills to grind grain and pump water for hundreds of years. Today, wind power usually means electricity that was generated by a wind turbine.

The wind blows because the surface of the earth isn’t all the same temperature. Some areas are hotter than others and as the air from these areas rises, adjacent air swooshes in to replace it. So ultimately wind power comes from the sun or the earth’s core heating up different parts of the earth’s surface.

Wind power has three main advantages. First, wind power is a renewable energy resource – the wind doesn’t go away because you used it all. Second, generating electricity from the wind doesn’t contribute to climate change – it doesn’t emit any greenhouse gases. Third, the wind is free – you don’t have to buy it to use it.

Brighter Planet helps farmers, towns, and schools that normally couldn’t afford a wind turbine. When you buy carbon offsets or use our cards you’re investing community projects that fight climate change by reducing emissions. You can learn more about the wind projects your contribution supports on our projects page.

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