Wind turbines capture free energy but also can degrade and fragment native habitat, kill birds and bats, and be seen from miles around. To address these critical public concerns new, homegrown, and innovative technology is coming online due to the Obama administration's economic stimulus and energy industry restructuring policies.
A small energy startup is beginning to install rooftop wind turbines that utilize a funnel shaped shroud to focus wind energy into a 22ft by 22ft set of rotors. "WindCube's" produce the same energy as the traditional 100 foot towers and fifty foot rotors while being mounted on unused roof space of industrial and commercial buildings. This small footprint allows for installation in downtown areas where skyscrapers and heating effects create locally high wind velocities.
This technology quickly pays for itself as well. Earth2Tech writer Jennifer Kho reports "The WindCube price tag is $279,000, plus installation. Green Energy says that with federal and state incentives, customers can expect to see a return on their investment in as little as 2-3 years."
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
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