Zoning laws often forbid tall wind turbines. The Windspire captures breezes at 30 feet and below with a design in which blades run up a pole’s length and spin around it. Contoured airfoils make the Windspire the first vertical-axis turbine that can start in slow winds without help from a motor or inefficient scoops or wings. $5,000; mariahpower.com
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.
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