Note: Images and Video © Lucid Dream Productions
Wind turbines designed to be installed on rooftops are generating a lot interest lately. These compact turbines can be located on top of buildings, or attached to other parts of large structures like bridges. In turns out, though, that installing wind turbine in a city environment is a bit of an art. That’s because each building has it’s own unique wind footprint, and nearby buildings also tend to generate strange wind patterns. So placing the wind turbines in the right place is key. The other challenge is to make these turbine noise-free and visually unobtrusive.
For many years, a fellow named Bil Becker has been hard at work developing his Aerotecture turbines. The turbines are elegant devices which incorporate both Savonius and Darrieus styles into one turbine (pictured here). His company has been installing these turbines in a few test locations around Chicago like the Near North Apartments at the Mercy Lakefront Housing.
This installation features eight Aeroturbines mounted horizontally to the roof of this 96-unit housing development. The building, designed by Murphy/Jahn Architects, is a fine example of building-integrated wind energy technology. The geometry and orientation of the building was designed specifically to increase the speed of the wind as it flows over the roof.
Here’s a video clip about the turbines:
So how power do these turbines produce? The Aerotecture FAQ says: “The estimated rated output of the 510V is 1kW in 30 mph winds; the estimated rating for the 520H is 1.8kW.” As for the price:
The 510V Aeroturbine has an estimated cost of $15,000; the 520H Aeroturbine has an estimated cost of $21,000. This price includes the full system: rotors, cages, all the custom mounting structures, and electronic equipment (batteries are optional and sold separately). The cost of Aeroturbines will dramatically decrease with the advent of mass production.
If you are interested in a wind turbine for you home, the best one you can get is a Skystream
Link: Aerotecture
See also this article by Chicago Conscious Choice on Bil Becker and Aerotecture.
37 responses so far ↓
1 Todd Napiorkowski // Jul 10, 2007 at 1:27 pm
I am assembling a budget for a new construction project in Highland park
The project is calling for one of your wind turbines,
can you please send some literature on who is installing these, as well as the technical data as to how much they weigh etc. etc.
2 sameer pandit // Sep 13, 2007 at 11:35 am
I am very much interested in this Technology, and wants to know well in detail about your Products. I consider it to be the NEXT GENERATION REQUIREMENTS AND BUSINESS. I request you to kindly send us your Product Details - Catalogue via mail or on our Address.
Thanking you and loking forward to receive your prompt and positive reply.
For, SAMEER ENTERPRISE
11, STERLING APPARTMENT,
OPP. ALFRED HIGH SCHOOL,
JAWAHAR ROAD,
RAJKOT - 360 001
(GUJARAT - INDIA.)
Ph: 00 91 281 222 0731, 662 0731
Fax: 00 91 281 244 1446
Email: samson_priyanka@yahoo.com
3 miguel galindo // May 12, 2008 at 10:32 am
I am extemly interested in this field and would like some information on how to get started. I believe in your product but have no idea what my first step should be. My phone # is 1951 377 2395. My address is 13568 Calico Pl. Chino ,Ca 91710. Any help you could render would be much appreciated. Thank you.
4 Richard S. // May 12, 2008 at 12:57 pm
This is exactly what I have been looking for. Please e-mail everything you can.
5 Dan Mercurio // May 22, 2008 at 7:43 am
I am very very interested to become a distributor of your product. Please communicate with me mcmercurio@yahoo.com
6 Dan Mercurio // May 22, 2008 at 7:44 am
I am very very interested to BUY your product. Please communicate with me mcmercurio@yahoo.com
7 Dan Mercurio // May 22, 2008 at 7:45 am
READY TO BUY…
8 David Gignac // Jun 2, 2008 at 5:23 pm
I am interested in selling and installing your wind turbins or wind solar matrix in commercial application, both, new construction and retrofit.
9 Carr // Jul 3, 2008 at 10:09 am
I have two 60 silos that I want to convert for wind energy turbine. Please contact me. I also want to start a wind farm in MI on the barn roofs and ground
10 Carr // Jul 11, 2008 at 5:07 pm
I have two 60 silos that I want to convert for wind energy turbine. Please contact me. I also want to start a wind farm in MI on the barn roofs and ground. please contact me at ktmcarr@hotmail.com. Ready to buy.
11 Shane Wasylucha // Jul 17, 2008 at 12:47 pm
Dear Sir, I live in Northern Canada and see the potential benifits of this type of installation. Can you please forward me information on your product and the possibility of distributor ship for this region of Canada.
Regards, Shane Wasylucha
12 Shane Wasylucha // Jul 17, 2008 at 12:48 pm
contact: wazie@theedge.ca
13 Raghupathi asomavaram // Jul 31, 2008 at 8:07 am
It’s simply marvellous . please send me the details of Rooftop wind power/Rooftop solar power.
14 ryan // Aug 2, 2008 at 5:49 pm
you should try and get these windturbines in Manhattan in the financial district/battery park area near the staten island ferry, it is always terribly windy there. Some of those finanical firms like jpmorgan, may like it as all those comapnies are looking into green/enviro issuess
15 RALPH // Aug 16, 2008 at 1:27 am
HAVE A SMALL COMMERCIAL BUILDING
IM INTERESTED IN WIND POWER
16 JD // Aug 26, 2008 at 3:53 pm
ATTN PEOPLE: >>>you have to click the http://www.aerotecture.com link above–or type it in your browser–to actually GO to the site that can sell you equipment or send you information. THIS PAGE IS ONLY NEWS…NOT A COMPANY SITE.
17 Ken Leler // Aug 28, 2008 at 3:10 pm
We are ready in Vancouver BC to move forward with your technology. Ken 694-628-1762
18 Ken Leler // Aug 28, 2008 at 3:41 pm
Moving forward in Vanh 604-628-1762
19 Ravindra Kumar // Sep 18, 2008 at 3:05 am
Sir, I am very much intrested in roof top wind turbine equipment kindly send me the complete detail, costing, installation etc and delearship details on email. Place : Bangalore, India.
20 Stephan Glunz // Sep 21, 2008 at 10:22 pm
My firm is located in the Chicago area and I am very very interested in your product. Please communicate with me on how we can install this system.
21 stephan Glunz // Sep 21, 2008 at 10:25 pm
My firm is located in the Chicago area and we are very interested in your system. Please send me info on how we purchase and install this system.
22 Giridhar Rao // Sep 23, 2008 at 9:33 am
It is excellent we are too keen to see in india if you could send more litrature about this product and price .and every home will have one all that is required is to produce 2 KW power for home and advance technology in batteries it would revolutnise the world where ever the wind force is avilable in the world.
23 P Nandkishor // Sep 25, 2008 at 7:18 am
Useful product…must be expensive…
pl.furnish product and sales details.
24 Peter Hart // Sep 26, 2008 at 4:50 pm
Don’t mean to throw a wet blanket on all this- but I drive by those turbines in Chicago everyday–they look great…but don’t seem to spin worth a damn.
Make sure you get third party testing data before you venture in. I may be wrong…but that’s what we all see.
25 Nitin deshpande // Sep 28, 2008 at 2:53 am
I am verymuch interested in the windturbine for the home use. I am having small bunglow. I am thinking of installing small wind turbine on the terrace of my bunglow.If you can help, please reply.
26 Marc // Oct 11, 2008 at 9:53 pm
Peter,
That is actually a design feature - the units are not intended to spin quickly. Fast spinning blades are dangerous in urban environments - exactly why wind farms are out in the boondocks. Just think about the birds that would become ground meat if these moved too fast. The slower movements are also meant to be quieter as well.
27 Mohamad Musthafa // Oct 13, 2008 at 1:21 am
The design feature is comparatively good. Can you give me more details about the performance of this turbine which versus with the length and diameter of the turbine. Also Please send me the details of the generator. It is better if it can produce AC 230 Volt 50Hz without need of an inverter.
28 courtney duquesnay // Oct 16, 2008 at 2:59 pm
do you make it in domestic and industrial sizes ? give prices &sizes
29 Alexander // Oct 17, 2008 at 3:04 am
Hi. I am from Ukraine. Our company “Ecothermoengineering ” works with energy saving technologies st the Ukrainian market. We work in different sectors. We find this wind turbine technology very interesting.
Can you please send me technical information and prices of your product range.
Thank you in advance.
Looking forward to further cooperation.
krivulin.s@rambler.ru
30 Glenn // Oct 22, 2008 at 10:49 am
I require information on your system. I would like to intigrate it into my properties.
31 robert carrow // Oct 22, 2008 at 2:35 pm
We are building a resort in central VA and are interested in adding two rooftop wind turbine systems. Can someone send me info and help with pricing?
32 M. Valen // Oct 24, 2008 at 3:50 pm
Please send info. for selling or distributing your wind turbines.
Very Interested.
33 merle cooper // Oct 28, 2008 at 1:05 am
I would like to schedule a meeting to discuss distributor/installer options. Please reply or call 773-772-8800.
34 Poulles Romain // Nov 1, 2008 at 7:33 am
Please send more info about this new type of Windturbines. We are building our new headquater in Luxemburg, The Solarwind-building project.
Looking forward to get information about new, innovativ, efficient technics and materials
Please send prixe expectations, technical details, installation and delivery information ( to europe)
35 Tim Mendonca // Nov 4, 2008 at 6:27 pm
Please provide me with contact information on purchase and installation of this equipment.
36 Bonnie // Nov 18, 2008 at 7:18 pm
please send me info on the rooftop equipment. thank you
37 Jim McCabe // Nov 20, 2008 at 4:44 pm
I am extremely interested in alternative energy. I would like as much information on your products for possible sales in the Washington DC area.
Thanks!
Leave a Comment