Mariah Power Windspire

Great Design, hope its more efficient as well at harnessing wind power. Go Green!!! =)

how much power can it create? Can it power a house? LOL! Would be fun to have this spinning on top of my home ^_^!

The annual energy yield is marketed as 2000kWh, with 1.2kW max draw... So as long as the sum of the energy of everything you have running is less than 1.2kW at any given time (just look at the device's documentation or labelling to find out how many watts it uses, or if it's expressed in amps, multiply by 120 or whatever voltage the device runs on) you can get 2000kWh out of one of these in a year. Typical household consumption for a conservative user is around 3000 to 4000kWh per year (I use less, typically 1000kWh per year - I'm SUPER CEREAL!!). So... mathologically speaking (no, that's not a real word... but it should be... MATHOLOGISTS UNITE!!!) one or two of these could power a whole house given adequate winds year-round (conditions which typically only exist on mountaintops).

I'd say, one or two of these, mixed with a couple average size solar panels, just might do it for anyone anywhere there is a fair amount of sun and wind.

ALSO!!! You would be restricted by your municipality zoning department from mounting this on top of your house. The whole point of the 30ft idea is to reduce the device's vertical footprint... we wouldn't want endangered birds or commercial airliners flying into it would we?

Arid areas in the world long have employed wind-powered water pumps to provide drinking water for cattle on remote ranges. As soon as the electric grid came near to these remote areas, however, the windmills were replaced by electric pumps for the reason that cattle can die of thirst if the wind doesn't blow for a week. Many of the more remote waterwells have acquired diesel pumps on timers.

Try this. If you have a flagpole, how often do you see the flag even half unfurled? Maybe twice in seven years I have seen my flag flying straight out. Don't count on that 1.2 kw to keep the food in your freezer from thawing.

Wait. The first to operate at low wind speeds and elevation? What happened to the helix wind turbine?

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=helix+wind+turbine+&btnG=Search

My average power bill is around $120 (I'm super cheap - 78 in summer, 55 in winter). At an average of 1/3 max draw (which seems reasonable), this thing would save me about $20 a month. That is almost 21 years to a break even point. I don't know of many mechanical devices that will last that long without maintainance cost as well.

If energy costs triple, then I might consider tucking 3 or 4 of these on my back lot for the "feel good green" effect, but as is, no way.

It is also ugly as sin. Why would you not paint it green or brown instead of white?

Of course, if you are in a more exspensive energy market, your milage may vary.

if Theydrick's numbers are correct, the average household can go pretty much off grid with 2 of these for 10k -- far less than 25k to 30k for solar panels.

this obviosly gets my GREEN N' SMART seal of aproval.

The energy you get from wind is directly related to the size of your turbine (vertical footprint or diameter). Make it half as big, get half the harvest. HOWEVER it is exponentially related to wind speed. Use half as fast wind, get 1/4 the energy.

While low speed wind turbines are nice to look at (certainly this one) they are not efficient to get a lot of energy. Unless you have good, low speed wind very often. Conventional vertical turbines may need a "push" but that is irrelevant when you can harvest the energy of higher speed winds.

Vertical wind turbines are exposed to air close to the ground where it is turbulent and slower. Not efficient.

I also wonder what this vertical turbine does in higher wind. No bracing or bearing on top. Will it fall over, rip out the top of your house or get damaged?

White is the color of "high-tech", that is why it is white. I think.

Why the heck is going off the grid green? It usually is much less energy efficient to live far away from anyone else.

In conclusion, depending on your location and situation a horizontal axis wind turbine may get you more power for less money and less head aches.

BTW, this is not the first vertical wind turbine that starts up in low speed winds. The first Savonius turbine (which does just that) was invented in 1922, a similar type even in 1745. I saw them on roof tops in Germany 30 years ago. I own a book about this type of wind motor written in 1989. Savonius rotors can still be found rusting away in fields in Vermont. They were not efficient types of turbines though.

And maybe this gets posted now.

Karsten
--
http://www.polluteless.com
Practical Advice to Pollute Less

What about laying the turbine Horizontally on top of your roof, running the length of your roof? you might even be able to place 2 or 3 of them on top of your roof, and I think it would stand out less, maybe even having them painted the same color as your roof tiles.

For years, while commuting along the freeways, I've thought it would be great if a municipality could harness the never-ending turbulence between the two directions of traffic using hundreds of vertical wind turbines. It looks like it could happen.

Anyone ever been passed by a large vehicle at a high speed? That's a lot of energy.

Comments?

turbulent air is per definition difficult to harness energy from.
Moreover we need to think cost: include cost and installation of thousands of turbine, maintainance, traffic delays,
potential hazard posed to vehicles and people(stormy winds), I think the price per Watt will be pretty high and not comparable to other systems even if you got a decent output.

When it comes to create cheap and reliable energy, a centralized system that serves a widespread grid is the way to go.Always have and probably always will.

We can reduce our "dependency" with novelty appliances sometimes designed more to vex our neighbors and that is very smart and useful(don't get me wrong!) indeed but let's not fool ourselves;
How soon and how well the big "switch"(fossil to renewable, that is) is going to happen depends almost entirely on the will of governments around the globe.

personalinfo - you and I think alike. One of the best thing about putting wind turbines down high speed highways is that the right of way already exists. This means that no-to-very little land has to be "appropriated" (condemned) to add wind as an energy resource. If the wind turbines were to have solar 'skin' attached, the energy result would be even better. However, there may be safety issues - people have been known to drive off the road. Another issue is noise, as anyone who has stood on the side of the road with cars and trucks whizzing by them can attest. So while the right of way may exist, there will no doubt be many who protest the installation of wind turbines on them. I think this idea is also good from the perspective of a more 'distributed' energy system. The current method of a few huge energy 'factories' providing electricity to huge sections of the country leaves huge sections of the country vulnerable to natural disasters, as seen in Hurricane Katrina. Perhaps I'm dreaming, but it seems to me that distributing both solar and wind energy generation capability throughout a region, with power plants would reduce the magnitude and consequences of electrical plant failure.

This is a start but not really worth much. 2,000 kWH per year? I'm consuming an average of about 1,300 kWH per month. 1200 watts? That's 12 each 100 watt light bulbs. This won't even run you water heater or well pump or fridge.

All of you should look at the eia website and get your #s straight.

Nice and cool design

The Windspire in my field is generating about 500-600 KWh per month. We live in Northwest Indiana and have class 2 winds or about 12-15 mph avg winds. It is mesmerising to watch and our energy bill has been reduced a little over 1/3. We have livestock in the same field and it doesn't seem to bother them at all. The noise it creates is a soft hum. During storms when the wind gusts are over 30mph the dynamic braking system stops the turbine from spinning and will turn back on when it senses the wind has died down to it's specs. We love it and want to put another up next to the existing one.

why not mount them on top of your electric polls, ugly on top of ugly.

good to know the government hasn't taxed air yet.

how much power can it create? Can it power a house? LOL! Would be fun to have this spinning on top of my home ^_^!

http://www.tamders.com/

Wow i have to say that is a great idea and thinking that they can operate in low winds with such a small amount of surface aria to catch the wind is amazing. Such light weight designs should become commonplace. I hope that home made wind turbines can become so efficient. If any one here is interested in learning how to build solar panels from scratch please check out my site. http://www.greenlivings.biz/home-renewable-energy/home-solar-energy/diy-home-solar-panels/learn-how-to-build-solar-panels-from-scratch

One of the best thing about putting wind turbines down high speed highways is that the right of way already exists. This means that no-to-very little land has to be "appropriated" (condemned) to add wind as an energy resource. If the wind turbines were to have solar 'skin' attached, the energy result would be even better. However, there may be safety issues - people have been known to drive off the road. Another issue is noise, as anyone who has stood on the side of the road with cars and trucks whizzing by them can attest. So while the right of way may exist, there will no doubt be many who protest the installation of wind turbines on them. I think this idea is also good from the perspective of a more 'distributed' energy system.
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