residential WInd power is here

[greenman3610]

and it's no more a problem to install rather than
the average satellite dish.

http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/006022.html

We base everything on an average wind speed of 12mph -- which is like a flag mildly waving int he wind. At that point it would produce about 425 KwH per month, which is pretty good based on that low of a wind speed. It would only take up to 20mph for the unit to run at its full capacity, where most technology requires speeds of 30mph. So it will reach full capacity, relative to other technologies, at a relatively low wind speed. Of course the number of KwH can rise dramatically at that point



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[tk2kewl]

1. 12mph avg is quite a bit of wind

[RaleighNCDUer]

2. My thought, too.

I ride my bike to work (when I don't walk) and a breeze as strong as 12mph is right at the edge of my decision to ride or walk - it doubles the effort it takes to ride.

I wonder what the energy output is in a more typical daily breeze of 3-5mph. Would that generate enought to make it cost effective?

One thing I notice, it talks about homes only. What if a business, or apartment building could get tax credits for erecting windmills? Commercial enterprises consume much more energy than private homes generally do, and if they could install more than one on the rooftops the cumulative effect could be significant.

[MamaBear]

3. Rooftop windmills

I asked this question to an energy activist friend, who told me there was a problem with vibration. It's a cool thought, though: each building self-generating enough power to light the common areas, perhaps run the laundry room. Heat and hot water may not be feasible, but it would be something...

[RaleighNCDUer]

hadn't considered vibration -

Refitting an existing building to deal with it would probably put it beyond economic feasibility. OTOH, with new construction I'm sure that dampers could be built into the building to compensate for the vibrations at little additional cost.

It's a start.

[jpak]

5. Lotsa Texas, Oklahoma, Northern Plains, Rocky Mountain states and New England are suitable

Especially coastal TX - one of the windiest placed I ever lived in...

[tk2kewl]

6. I live on the water on Long Island and it generally seems windy

but once i looked up the annual average and found it was something like 7mph

[leeroysphitz]

4. cool. nt

[itsmesgd]

7. The trick is to use whichever alternative power that best suits your setup.

My dad lives in a topographic region where a 10-15 mph "breeze" is pretty much constant. He also has enough land to have three or four of these things.
I live in a place surrounded by trees, but the angle of my roof would better suit me for installing solar panels.

[greenman3610]

9. I think that's right

first of all, make your homestead as tight and efficient
as possible, update appliances, lighting, etc - consider eating less
meat,replace car with more efficient model, if it's due for
replacement.
Then think about home power. I don't think my particular
area is good for wind because of trees, but I could see my community
installing these in some areas to power parks or rec areas.
I could also see a larger model in a park area specifically to
generate grid power and revenue for the city.

For my house, I am thinking of an efficient wood
burner, maybe pellet stove.. but I am continuing to
upgrade the insulation and efficiency as I evaluate the
options.

[Jim Warren]

8. Decentralized

end user application of solar, wind, geo-thermal etc. along with a MASSIVE conservation effort including housing and appliance redesign is the way to go, IOW at the residential or commercial building level.

Beats a desert full of mirrors or mountain tops full of wind farms.