JAN 06

An affordable housing project in the South Bronx is looking to wind turbines to make living there even more affordable. Blue Sea Development Company is installing 10, one-kilowatt turbines on the roof of their newest apartment building, which will lead to significant savings in energy costs.

The turbines, from AeroVironment, will power the five-story building's hallways, elevators and common spaces. Best of all, the development company claims the turbines will cut the building's common electricity costs in half, from $18,000 annually to $9,000 annually.

The building's residents will still power their apartments the old-fashioned way, through Con Edison, but the savings in energy costs are allowing the building owners to set the rent at below-market prices. A nice incentive for renters in this economy.

This project could go a long way in proving the potential of wind power in an urban setting. So far, wind turbines and cities have seemed mutually exclusive (there are definite drawbacks), but with such a promising return in energy savings, it's time to reconsider the possibilities.

via Treehugger

Image via AeroVironment

Comments (2)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Remember . . .
written by andrew, January 07, 2009

A 1 kw wind turbine is rated at peak operating (app. 28-30 mph wind speed) and in NYC thats a very small window of time over the course of the year. I'm all for using small, urban wind power production but I'll believe the savings when I see it. I wouldn't be surprised if the savings are 50% less than what they have forecasted. $9k of savings from (10) 1kw turbines is a little generous in my opinion. Developers like building mounted turbines because of the p.r.; they're expensive and the payback period for an installation of this size is pretty long (depending on incentives). But because they are a visible "statement" they see an additional value to using them, which is not necessarily a bad thing.

• 
• +0
• 
• 

High Electric Rates in New York State
written by John Tedder, January 07, 2009

Megan, I just wrote a blog post about high electric rates in New York State. I thought you might be interested. I live within a few miles of 3 small hydroelectric sites on the Hudson River, Fish Creek, and Battenkill River. I don't know where all this cheap energy is going, but I don't get any of it. I hope these wind and water turbines get cheaper to install. I would love to get off the grid. Someday electric prices will come down just like phone call prices. I hope I live to see it!

• 
• +0
• 
• 

Name

Email

Website

Title

Comment

smaller | bigger

Subscribe via email (registered users only)

Add Comment