| The Windspire Home Energy Appliance |
| Written by Hank Green | ||
| Monday, 23 April 2007 | ||
The Windspire is a home 'energy appliance,' being touted by Mariah Energy as low-impact, quiet, attractive and inexpensive. The turbine has an extremely low footrpint and generates power in only 8 mph winds. However, we're not so sure our neighbors would be OK with us putting one of these things up. It might be quiet, but it's also thirty feet tall, taller than almost anything man made in most residential neighborhoods. But it does produce a good amount of energy (rated at 1 kilowatt) with a tiny footprint. And, when it comes out in a few months, it will be one of the cheapest wind power solutions on the market at only $4,000. And they'll give you your choice of color too: milky white, crystal clear, stop sign red or sky blue. Continue reading for more pictures and a video of the turbine in action. Via Metaefficient
Comments
(7)
Oh, puh-LEEZE!
written by Janis Mara , April 24, 2007
easy placement
written by ryan , April 26, 2007
although it may raise the eyebrows of neighbors in a residential neigborhood, what about placement in areas where knowledge of the windspeed is beneficial. It would be a case of win win on playing fields (baseball, football, golf, tennis, etc) where the facility would be saving money/earth and the users would take advantage of the visual wind speed monitor. playing fields already usually have something similar to this in the form of a weather vane or wind sock, this would just be more functional. And although 4k does seem like alot of cash to shell out for an individual, it is very easy to add that onto the cost for a business or educational institution or park.
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written by Adrian Akau , May 13, 2007
Why don't you order a 1Kw (rated at 12m/sec) turbine plus controller from Shanghai Aeolus Wind Turbine Co. http://www.sawt.com.cn/index_en.asp
The total cost (turbine, blades and controller) is $2184 plus postage of $300. Then all you do is add on your own grid tie inverter. This is also a VAWT (vertical) turbine like the windspire but can be roof mounted if the roof is about 5.5 meters (17 feet) high. It's diameter is 180cm, vertical blade length 200cm. and working speed is 4-25m/sec with a safe wind speed limit of 50m/sec. Output from the turbine is 36VDC and from the controller is 200-500VDC which is just right for a grid tie inverter to change to 110/220VAC and match the sine wave to the grid. I don't think it comes in different colors but it sure saves a bundle. I think the Windspire above comes with a regular inverter, not a grid tie inverter so while you can get 110VAC, it does not come with a grid tie inverter so you cannot hook it up to slow your meter down or make it move backward. This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
One word.. Shaghai
written by Dutch Thurman , September 08, 2007
Windspire is made in the US, making it worth the extra money in saving American jobs. Of course, since I was married in Reno, where Mariah Energy is loacted, is a sentimental plus as well.
I live in a rural bedroom community in the High Desert in Southern California... I wonder if I could get away with two of them at my new home site......
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written by Austin , May 29, 2008
Does anyone know where I can buy a Shanghai Aeolus Wind Turbine, which Andrew mentioned above?
Windcpire comes to market!
written by Aaron Dalton , August 06, 2008
The price has gone up a bit, but Windspire is actually available for purchase now. (Though I read at The Alternative Consumer today that there may be a waiting list.)
Here's a link to my review - http://1greenproduct.com/2008/...rbine.html - Aaron Dalton, 1GreenProduct.com
Are homeowners allowed to install these?
written by Nate , August 18, 2008
I dont think that one of these would be illegal to put up for the average homeowner, unless your housing development has extremely strics rules regarding aesthetics which you agreed to when buying your home. A flagpole height ranges from 15ft-100ft, and I have never heard of someone not being allowed to install one. Why should a beneficial 30ft wind turbine be any different?
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Well, I certainly applaud the use of wind energy, and as a Northern California resident, I can testify that the industrial-strength wind turbines at Altamont Pass and Rio Vista up here are beautiful sights.
That said, the idea that an ordinary individual could possibly install a pole that height in a residential neighborhood and get away with it is not practical. Not only would the neighbors complain, at least in my neighborhood I believe installing something 30 feet tall is not legally allowed without a permit. And the chance of getting such a permit is not huge.
Also noting the $4,000 cost, which is certainly more reasonable than, say, a $30,000 solar roof, but still a huge chunk o' change for ordinary people. Yes, you can rationalize that you'll get it back via decreased energy costs, but it's still a $4,000 upfront expenditure, yes?
I hope I don't sound unduly negative - again, I'm all in favor of wind power! Maybe for people who live on a farm?