[SustainableTompkins] Small Wind Turbines

[michael at windymiles.com]

I came across the quietrevolution vertical axis turbine (http://www.quietrevolution.co.uk) a couple of weeks ago after a friend told me about them.  Seems very interesting, though I'd like to see independent verifiable data on them.

I do agree with the point in the article about purist concerned about efficiency.  No matter what the technology, the main question people should be asking about small wind is: What is the realistic payback period?  Currently we talking about 2 or 3 decades, which unfortunately put it out of reach for most people who are intestested in small wind (Read: small wind is not financially viable now).  There's a lot of people interested, but not very many people like me (and my family) who are willing to shell out that much money to do the right thing for the environment and sustainability.  Eventually, if the industry is to thrive, it needs to create affordable small wind without relying on goverment incentive programs.  If rooftop wind turbines - or any technology - can deliever on this, great.  The current model of gov. incentives and state bureacracy is only hurting small wind development from maturing into a profitable business.

Michael Miles
www.windymiles.com

>  -------Original Message-------
>  From: James Hogg <jhogg at mac.com>
>  Subject: [SustainableTompkins] Small Wind Turbines
>  Sent: 03 Oct '06 19:03
>  
>  I just read a post on Dailykos about small rooftop wind turbines. It  
>  seems the thrust for these is happening in the UK. Has anybody seen  
>  these before? Know of US distributors? Have any other thoughts?
>  
>  I agree with the Dailykos blogger about not needing to be perfect in  
>  efficiency or in placement to harness the perfect wind. The more I  
>  become aware of energy issues, the more I see energy all around us  
>  that could be put to use. We need affordable, easy to install and use  
>  photovoltaic cells on sun facing surfaces and small turbines to  
>  "catch" winds across our roofs.
>  
>  Here are a few links:
>  
>  The Dailykos blog:
>  http://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/10/3/14647/1276
>  
>  Links from the blog:
>  http://www.renewabledevices.com/swift/index.htm
>  http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/01/come_the_quiet_1.php
>  http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005/05/a_miniturbine_o.php
>  
>  http://www.ecobusinesslinks.com/vertical_axis_wind_turbines.htm
>  
>  Jim
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