As wind turbine configurations go, Windspire has one of the most neighborhood friendly versions.  Rather than wielding propellers that are loud and lethal to birds, Windspire has vertical blades that are quiet and birds can see and at prices that beat solar panels by the tens of thousands.

Windspire is a product of Mariah Power.  The Windspire is not invisible as it stands 30 feet tall, but unlike other wind turbines, it is 2 feet in radius.  The blades are not propellers and are attached to two circular bars at the bottom and the top.  The blades turn around a central axis that collects the energy generated.

One of the other great aspects of the 1.2 KW Windspire is its price: $4,995 (essentially $5,000) which is tens of thousands less than you would pay for solar power.   The Windspire also “comes complete with a high efficiency generator, integrated inverter, hinged monopole, and wireless performance monitor.” 

The 1.2 KW Windspire should be able to generate 1/3 to 1/2 a typical homes energy needs.  The new 3 KW version that is on its way should provide the entire needs of most households.

It also comes “plug ‘n play” ready.  You get your local installer to set it up (you must provide the concrete for the foundation) and then plug it into the house and start harvesting the energy.  At 12 mph winds, you should get about 2,000 kilowatts of power.  The Windspire will work in winds up to 100 mph.

The Windspire is quiet and turns slow enough that birds can see the blades to avoid them.  Unlike other wind turbines, birds could actually perch on the top circular rail should they want a short merry-go-round ride.  All kidding aside, this is one of the safest wind turbines made.

This new wind turbine is also relatively maintenance free.  It requires oiling the bearings twice a year.  That requires at least a step ladder as the bearings are located 9 feet off the ground.

With solar power, you get the solar panels and installation.  Items like the inverter, cost extra.  True if you want to save any of the generated electrical power from the Windspire, you still have to buy batteries, but we are still not talking an outlay of $35,000 to $69,000 in costs which is on the low end for solar installations.

The Windspire can be bought directly from Mariah Power although they have a backlog of orders at the moment.

Before investing even such a small pittance like $5,000 for a source of renewable energy I would want to see it and talk to my neighbors.  Although I live near power lines, it would not surprise me to have someone upset with a 30 foot wind turbine suddenly sprouting up in my yard.

Neighbors can be the deterrent to just about any source of renewable energy and usually on the grounds that whatever you choose – solar, or wind – it doesn’t “blend in” with the neighborhood esthetic.

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Entry was posted on Wednesday, August 20th, 2008 at 11:25 am under Green Technology, Technology.

Read more entries by Susan Wilson.
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