Comments on: Windspire: Propeller-Free Household Turbine Gets Approval http://www.metaefficient.com/renewable-power/windspire-propeller-free-household-turbine-get-approval.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=windspire-propeller-free-household-turbine-get-approval The Guide To Highly Efficient Things Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:48:28 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: steve roe http://www.metaefficient.com/renewable-power/windspire-propeller-free-household-turbine-get-approval.html/comment-page-2#comment-70427 steve roe Sun, 31 May 2009 14:46:26 +0000 http://www.metaefficient.com/renewable-power/windspire-propeller-free-household-turbine-get-approval.html#comment-70427 what is the lowest cost, for a home with installation in the texas area corpus christi tx. what is the lowest cost, for a home with installation in the texas area corpus christi tx.

]]> By: Neil http://www.metaefficient.com/renewable-power/windspire-propeller-free-household-turbine-get-approval.html/comment-page-2#comment-57047 Neil Wed, 18 Mar 2009 14:50:40 +0000 http://www.metaefficient.com/renewable-power/windspire-propeller-free-household-turbine-get-approval.html#comment-57047 No shadows? Both photos clearly show shadows being cast by the spire. In the left photo the bottom ring of the spire is casting a crescent-shaped shadow on the inverted cup at the top of the mast that the spire is mounted on. In the right photo the spire and mast are casting a clearly visible shadow to the right starting at the base of the mast. No shadows? Both photos clearly show shadows being cast by the spire.

In the left photo the bottom ring of the spire is casting a crescent-shaped shadow on the inverted cup at the top of the mast that the spire is mounted on.

In the right photo the spire and mast are casting a clearly visible shadow to the right starting at the base of the mast.

]]> By: Neil http://www.metaefficient.com/renewable-power/windspire-propeller-free-household-turbine-get-approval.html/comment-page-2#comment-56926 Neil Tue, 17 Mar 2009 21:59:06 +0000 http://www.metaefficient.com/renewable-power/windspire-propeller-free-household-turbine-get-approval.html#comment-56926 No shadows? I can clearly see shadows in both photos. In the left photo there is a crescent-shaped shadow on the inverted cup at the top of the pole holding the spire. In the right photo the sun is shining from the left. The rocks are casting shadows to the right. The pole holding the spire is also casting a shadow to the right. But what would a lack of shadows prove? That the photographer used a flash during the day time to eliminate shadows? That is a common practice when photographing people in the sun to eliminate harsh shadows and reduce the contrast of a photo. No shadows? I can clearly see shadows in both photos.

In the left photo there is a crescent-shaped shadow on the inverted cup at the top of the pole holding the spire.

In the right photo the sun is shining from the left. The rocks are casting shadows to the right. The pole holding the spire is also casting a shadow to the right.

But what would a lack of shadows prove? That the photographer used a flash during the day time to eliminate shadows? That is a common practice when photographing people in the sun to eliminate harsh shadows and reduce the contrast of a photo.

]]> By: me http://www.metaefficient.com/renewable-power/windspire-propeller-free-household-turbine-get-approval.html/comment-page-1#comment-56881 me Tue, 17 Mar 2009 15:31:48 +0000 http://www.metaefficient.com/renewable-power/windspire-propeller-free-household-turbine-get-approval.html#comment-56881 That pic is photoshopped. No shadows on the turbine. doh! That pic is photoshopped. No shadows on the turbine. doh!

]]> By: Neil http://www.metaefficient.com/renewable-power/windspire-propeller-free-household-turbine-get-approval.html/comment-page-1#comment-47788 Neil Mon, 16 Feb 2009 18:17:17 +0000 http://www.metaefficient.com/renewable-power/windspire-propeller-free-household-turbine-get-approval.html#comment-47788 In my opinion the green movement has repeatedly shot itself in the foot. Initially it seems like a great idea to promote a green technology by calculating how much money will be saved in a certain number of years. "This investment will pay for itself in X years. After that, you start earning money." It's nice, when that actually happens. But what if it doesn't pay off in an amount of time considered to be a good investment? With this mentality, the decision maker decides not to do what would be good for the environment, people and animals. With our economy in the state it's currently in, there are a lot of people (including myself) that are struggling to stay alive. They are having to watch every dollar they spend and my following comments may not apply to them. But think about those that have a decent job. Are all of their decisions based on the cost of something? We could take food for lunch to work each day and save perhaps $5 or more a day. That comes out to about $100 a month. Many choose the more expensive restaurant option. Why? They like the food, the convenience or the atmosphere. The monetary issue is not an issue for them. Consider the cars people purchase. They could buy a Prius for $22,000 and save a lot of gas. But many choose to pay much more: Lexus ES 350: $35,000 Mercedes C300: $35,000 Cadillac CTS: $40,000 Corvette: $50,000 Hummer H2: $60,000 Are any of these decisions based on payback? No car salesman would base his pitch on the idea that the car would pay for itself in a certain number of years. And no buyer even considers that possibility. These more expensive cars are bought because of greater comfort, aesthetics, prestige or performance. Cars depreciate quickly in just a few years. A large part of the purchase price is lost. They are often much more expensive to maintain and repair. But that doesn’t prevent people that can afford them from buying those cars. People are very willing to put out a lot of money on something they like, for whatever reason that is in each case. How many people love the idea of their neighbors seeing them leaving and returning in their expensive car? Is it not equally feasible that some people might get the same feeling about having a solar water heater or photovoltaic system on their roof or a wind turbine in their backyard? “Look at us. We’ve got the latest technology to produce all our own electricity. We aren’t polluting the air. We aren’t sending our money to the arabs to buy oil to produce electricity. We helped create jobs here in the US. We don’t have to worry about future electricity price increases because we included it in our home mortgage when the home was built and our mortgage is fixed for 30 years.” Including a wind turbine, photovoltaic or pico hydroelectric system for $30,000 in the purchase of your new home would increase your mortgage by $180 a month. (At 6% interest a fixed 30-year mortgage costs $6 a month for each $1,000). If your electric bill would otherwise have been $100 a month, the green choice is only costing you $80 a month extra. There are a lot of people that could afford that extra expense. And as electricity rates go up in the next 30 years, the difference comes down further. The greens should stop shooting themselves in the foot. Stop making a financial payback the major (or only) focus in making green decisions. Money is not the top priority for everyone. There are other issues that are important to a lot of people and their numbers are increasing as they learn about the other issues: health for humans and animals, job creation, protection of the environment, balance of trade deficit due to imports of oil, preservation of natural resources that have better uses than just being burned, energy independence, global warming, the prestige that early adopters enjoy and the good feeling some people get from knowing that they have made a decision that is good in some way. I look forward to the time when articles like this one about a wind turbine act as a catalyst for a discussion of other relevant issues. Wind turbines only produce electricity if the wind is strong enough. Does it blow year round or only during a portion of the year? How many tons of carbon dioxide aren’t released into the atmosphere with an annual production of 1800 kilowatt hours? Who is testing wind turbines under identical conditions and comparing the results regarding the lowest wind speed to produce electricity, output at various speeds, noise produced and cost? Who is providing financing for green improvements to homes? In my opinion the green movement has repeatedly shot itself in the foot. Initially it seems like a great idea to promote a green technology by calculating how much money will be saved in a certain number of years. “This investment will pay for itself in X years. After that, you start earning money.”

It’s nice, when that actually happens. But what if it doesn’t pay off in an amount of time considered to be a good investment? With this mentality, the decision maker decides not to do what would be good for the environment, people and animals.

With our economy in the state it’s currently in, there are a lot of people (including myself) that are struggling to stay alive. They are having to watch every dollar they spend and my following comments may not apply to them. But think about those that have a decent job. Are all of their decisions based on the cost of something?

We could take food for lunch to work each day and save perhaps $5 or more a day. That comes out to about $100 a month. Many choose the more expensive restaurant option. Why? They like the food, the convenience or the atmosphere. The monetary issue is not an issue for them.

Consider the cars people purchase. They could buy a Prius for $22,000 and save a lot of gas. But many choose to pay much more:
Lexus ES 350: $35,000
Mercedes C300: $35,000
Cadillac CTS: $40,000
Corvette: $50,000
Hummer H2: $60,000
Are any of these decisions based on payback? No car salesman would base his pitch on the idea that the car would pay for itself in a certain number of years. And no buyer even considers that possibility. These more expensive cars are bought because of greater comfort, aesthetics, prestige or performance. Cars depreciate quickly in just a few years. A large part of the purchase price is lost. They are often much more expensive to maintain and repair. But that doesn’t prevent people that can afford them from buying those cars. People are very willing to put out a lot of money on something they like, for whatever reason that is in each case. How many people love the idea of their neighbors seeing them leaving and returning in their expensive car?

Is it not equally feasible that some people might get the same feeling about having a solar water heater or photovoltaic system on their roof or a wind turbine in their backyard? “Look at us. We’ve got the latest technology to produce all our own electricity. We aren’t polluting the air. We aren’t sending our money to the arabs to buy oil to produce electricity. We helped create jobs here in the US. We don’t have to worry about future electricity price increases because we included it in our home mortgage when the home was built and our mortgage is fixed for 30 years.”

Including a wind turbine, photovoltaic or pico hydroelectric system for $30,000 in the purchase of your new home would increase your mortgage by $180 a month. (At 6% interest a fixed 30-year mortgage costs $6 a month for each $1,000). If your electric bill would otherwise have been $100 a month, the green choice is only costing you $80 a month extra. There are a lot of people that could afford that extra expense. And as electricity rates go up in the next 30 years, the difference comes down further.

The greens should stop shooting themselves in the foot. Stop making a financial payback the major (or only) focus in making green decisions. Money is not the top priority for everyone. There are other issues that are important to a lot of people and their numbers are increasing as they learn about the other issues: health for humans and animals, job creation, protection of the environment, balance of trade deficit due to imports of oil, preservation of natural resources that have better uses than just being burned, energy independence, global warming, the prestige that early adopters enjoy and the good feeling some people get from knowing that they have made a decision that is good in some way.

I look forward to the time when articles like this one about a wind turbine act as a catalyst for a discussion of other relevant issues. Wind turbines only produce electricity if the wind is strong enough. Does it blow year round or only during a portion of the year? How many tons of carbon dioxide aren’t released into the atmosphere with an annual production of 1800 kilowatt hours? Who is testing wind turbines under identical conditions and comparing the results regarding the lowest wind speed to produce electricity, output at various speeds, noise produced and cost? Who is providing financing for green improvements to homes?

]]> By: democracymmmk http://www.metaefficient.com/renewable-power/windspire-propeller-free-household-turbine-get-approval.html/comment-page-1#comment-47177 democracymmmk Sun, 15 Feb 2009 05:56:46 +0000 http://www.metaefficient.com/renewable-power/windspire-propeller-free-household-turbine-get-approval.html#comment-47177 Selfishness is a disease of the mind? What would your cured mind and your cured world look like? Selfishness is a disease of the mind? What would your cured mind and your cured world look like?

]]> By: Rusty Waters http://www.metaefficient.com/renewable-power/windspire-propeller-free-household-turbine-get-approval.html/comment-page-1#comment-47021 Rusty Waters Sat, 14 Feb 2009 20:50:37 +0000 http://www.metaefficient.com/renewable-power/windspire-propeller-free-household-turbine-get-approval.html#comment-47021 Looking 4 Green Citizens, the Few the Proud the..... The discussion are informative and as I endeavor to become better informed, about all the issues above. i.e. environmental payback VS the personal payback schema There's this mind set that has to be overcome initially about all this. CHANGE, it doesn't seem to register, especially those who can afford an assortment of personal items collected over the years, let's use 10 yrs as an example. Purchases, including but not limited: SUV, Boats, motorcycles just to ring bells and blow whistles, some exceeding 25K and financed at 5-18 percent over time and depreciate in the first year 12-20- 30% ?? This is the mind set to overcome because for the most part its the equivalent to most common systems that integrate one or more of these alternative resources. Not only do they add value your home or business,but in the bigger sense, your becoming better stewards of the big blue marble we call EARTH. However, no one blinks and eye at these purchases and many spend a year and a considerable amount of time with car sales people, shopping until the market is right to buy. While some just buy on credit (the instant gratification genre) I close with that in mind, when will we get it, when will people understand and get to that point in co~generation co~operative Coalitions, where Co~investment owned affordable resources are at the forefront of our nations leaders and our citizens in our communities respectfully/ Don't wait for your GOvernment to come up with solution, you all can make those decision in your own community now. Waiting has proven to become a legislative death process, as one person after another group defines all we treasure in their effort to stall out time after time, and it continues to be focal point for more Americans dying in Vain of reducing / Controlling efforts to stay Grid tied & Gagged ? If we survive the next industrial age in using Alternative energy resources and someone is still around, it will be a story of the few, the proud, the citizens who stood united to bring about change for affordable renewable DO-able alternative resources. Or it will be a story of how citizens pitifully refused to invest in our EARTH's future, and its natural resources and we wasted our valuable time on trickery and small trinkets of self worth. Become an advocate for affordable renewable resources in your community, be it on line or more effectively actually doing something physically, financially investing to support and bring about these causes. The IOWA community did just that in 2007 and got a 3-1 return on their investment, making those changes that brought about energy effiecientcy, wow when was the last time you personally had a ROI like that in the Stock market. Selfishness is a disease of the mind and it kills our spirit in unity. I can't tell you how often it sickens me to see people siting in their SUV's with engines running for half an hour or more while in a parking lot talking on their cell phone. While the young and old Veterans return to the theater of war a number of times to face attack after attack, for what, for your principles, for what then, ask your self and decide what needs to happen in in each of us, in your little corner of the world for you to overcome the mentality of change, to think about all we hold sacred and treasure ? People are dying over seas for people like you who sit there nice and warm, people swore an oath of allegiance to protect your way of life. Looking 4 Green Citizens, the Few the Proud the…..
The discussion are informative and as I endeavor to become better informed, about all the issues above.
i.e. environmental payback VS the personal payback schema
There’s this mind set that has to be overcome initially about all this. CHANGE,
it doesn’t seem to register, especially those who can afford an assortment of personal items collected over the years, let’s use 10 yrs as an example.
Purchases, including but not limited: SUV, Boats, motorcycles just to ring bells and blow whistles, some exceeding 25K and financed at 5-18 percent over time and depreciate in the first year 12-20- 30% ?? This is the mind set to overcome because for the most part its the equivalent to most common systems that integrate one or more of these alternative resources. Not only do they add value your home or business,but in the bigger sense, your becoming better stewards of the big blue marble we call EARTH.
However, no one blinks and eye at these purchases and many spend a year and a considerable amount of time with car sales people, shopping until the market is right to buy. While some just buy on credit (the instant gratification genre)
I close with that in mind, when will we get it, when will people understand and get to that point in co~generation co~operative Coalitions, where Co~investment owned affordable resources are at the forefront of our nations leaders and our citizens in our communities respectfully/
Don’t wait for your GOvernment to come up with solution, you all can make those decision in your own community now. Waiting has proven to become a legislative death process, as one person after another group defines all we treasure in their effort to stall out time after time, and it continues to be focal point for more Americans dying in Vain of reducing / Controlling efforts to stay Grid tied & Gagged ?
If we survive the next industrial age in using Alternative energy resources and someone is still around, it will be a story of the few, the proud, the citizens who stood united to bring about change for affordable renewable DO-able alternative resources. Or it will be a story of how citizens pitifully refused to invest in our EARTH’s future, and its natural resources and we wasted our valuable time on trickery and small trinkets of self worth.
Become an advocate for affordable renewable resources in your community, be it on line or more effectively actually doing something physically, financially investing to support and bring about these causes.
The IOWA community did just that in 2007 and got a 3-1 return on their investment, making those changes that brought about energy effiecientcy, wow when was the last time you personally had a ROI like that in the Stock market.
Selfishness is a disease of the mind and it kills our spirit in unity. I can’t tell you how often it sickens me to see people siting in their SUV’s with engines running for half an hour or more while in a parking lot talking on their cell phone. While the young and old Veterans return to the theater of war a number of times to face attack after attack, for what, for your principles, for what then, ask your self and decide what needs to happen in in each of us, in your little corner of the world for you to overcome the mentality of change, to think about all we hold sacred and treasure ?
People are dying over seas for people like you who sit there nice and warm, people swore an oath of allegiance to protect your way of life.

]]> By: Neil http://www.metaefficient.com/renewable-power/windspire-propeller-free-household-turbine-get-approval.html/comment-page-1#comment-24766 Neil Wed, 26 Nov 2008 08:52:04 +0000 http://www.metaefficient.com/renewable-power/windspire-propeller-free-household-turbine-get-approval.html#comment-24766 The green movement, I believe, shot itself repeatedly in the foot by promoting green decisions based on an economical payback. Once again we see people rejecting possibly good solutions because they don't pay for themselves in a certain period of time or even ever. However, the fact remains that virtually all of us make decisions daily regardless of the economics because we want something. Why do so many choose to spend much more money on meals at restaurants rather than eat at home? Why does someone spend so much more money on a Hummer, Cadillac or Mercedes rather than on a less expensive car? Obviously they don't calculate how quickly the car will pay for itself. They are paying much more for the prestige or fun of driving that car and they aren't a bit concerned that it will be worth almost nothing in maybe ten years. Why shouldn't someone spend $5,000 or $40,000 on a solar hot water heater, a wind turbine or a photovoltaic system because of the prestige or good feeling they get from having one of those systems on their home? Unfortunately many make decisions solely on the basis of finances and often how they personally can profit the most. But there are many issues that have financial consequences that are not easily calculated. How much does impaired health due to air pollution cost our society in medical bills, higher health insurance costs and reduced productivity? And let's not forget that the polluters pollute everybody's air, not just their own. Your health suffers perhaps because of another person's decision to pollute. Your breathing is impaired. Your quality of life is diminished. Your medical expenses go up. Is that person doing the polluting not being selfish? There are so many good reasons to choose green alternatives. We should promote a mentality that sees other values and issues than just $$$$$$: * Preservation of our environment for the health and enjoyment of all currently living and future generations. * Limiting the burning of oil that can be used for the production of higher quality products. * Keeping more of our money in our country instead of giving it to another country that possibly uses it to buy our companies. * Buying technology, products and services that are produced in our country and promote jobs here. * Reducing our dependence on other countries' production of resources. * Reducing our incentive to go to war with other countries because we feel it is our "right" to get their resources at the prices we want to pay. * Insuring the long-term sustainability of our existence. There are a lot of good reasons to be green. Let's promote all of them. The green movement, I believe, shot itself repeatedly in the foot by promoting green decisions based on an economical payback. Once again we see people rejecting possibly good solutions because they don’t pay for themselves in a certain period of time or even ever.

However, the fact remains that virtually all of us make decisions daily regardless of the economics because we want something. Why do so many choose to spend much more money on meals at restaurants rather than eat at home? Why does someone spend so much more money on a Hummer, Cadillac or Mercedes rather than on a less expensive car? Obviously they don’t calculate how quickly the car will pay for itself. They are paying much more for the prestige or fun of driving that car and they aren’t a bit concerned that it will be worth almost nothing in maybe ten years. Why shouldn’t someone spend $5,000 or $40,000 on a solar hot water heater, a wind turbine or a photovoltaic system because of the prestige or good feeling they get from having one of those systems on their home?

Unfortunately many make decisions solely on the basis of finances and often how they personally can profit the most. But there are many issues that have financial consequences that are not easily calculated. How much does impaired health due to air pollution cost our society in medical bills, higher health insurance costs and reduced productivity? And let’s not forget that the polluters pollute everybody’s air, not just their own. Your health suffers perhaps because of another person’s decision to pollute. Your breathing is impaired. Your quality of life is diminished. Your medical expenses go up. Is that person doing the polluting not being selfish?

There are so many good reasons to choose green alternatives. We should promote a mentality that sees other values and issues than just $$$$$$:
* Preservation of our environment for the health and enjoyment of all currently living and future generations.
* Limiting the burning of oil that can be used for the production of higher quality products.
* Keeping more of our money in our country instead of giving it to another country that possibly uses it to buy our companies.
* Buying technology, products and services that are produced in our country and promote jobs here.
* Reducing our dependence on other countries’ production of resources.
* Reducing our incentive to go to war with other countries because we feel it is our “right” to get their resources at the prices we want to pay.
* Insuring the long-term sustainability of our existence.

There are a lot of good reasons to be green. Let’s promote all of them.

]]> By: Aaron Dalton http://www.metaefficient.com/renewable-power/windspire-propeller-free-household-turbine-get-approval.html/comment-page-1#comment-13133 Aaron Dalton Wed, 06 Aug 2008 14:11:12 +0000 http://www.metaefficient.com/renewable-power/windspire-propeller-free-household-turbine-get-approval.html#comment-13133 The price has gone up for Windspire, but much else has remained the same as the product actually makes its way to market -- http://1greenproduct.com/2008/08/outdoor-home-windspire-wind-turbine.html Love reading MetaEfficient as always... - Aaron Dalton, 1GreenProduct.com The price has gone up for Windspire, but much else has remained the same as the product actually makes its way to market — http://1greenproduct.com/2008/08/outdoor-home-windspire-wind-turbine.html

Love reading MetaEfficient as always…

- Aaron Dalton, 1GreenProduct.com

]]> By: Jay Draiman http://www.metaefficient.com/renewable-power/windspire-propeller-free-household-turbine-get-approval.html/comment-page-1#comment-11514 Jay Draiman Thu, 12 Jun 2008 05:29:28 +0000 http://www.metaefficient.com/renewable-power/windspire-propeller-free-household-turbine-get-approval.html#comment-11514 Energy conservation - The transition For the past several years, all the debates and analyses related to the use of primary energies are influenced by a set of incontrovertible facts. They all lead to the same conclusion: "it is essential to rationalize the use of energy on a world-wide scale, in order to ensure the sustainable future of the species that inhabit the planet and of the corresponding biodiversity that supports them". A transition to a sustainable energy system is necessary, also from “the economic point of view”, that guarantees the maintenance of our generation's and future generations' welfare, from a perspective of respecting the environment. This transition requires significant effort in research, development and technological innovation, as well as greater social awareness of the energy problem. In the short and medium term, the objectives for implementing a sustainable energy system would include the application of measures such as: • Encouraging energy saving and efficiency. • Promoting renewable energy sources. • The development of the necessary energy infrastructures to face the increase in consumption during this period of transition (gas-based infrastructures). Energy conservation – The transition

For the past several years, all the debates and analyses related to the use of primary energies are influenced by a set of incontrovertible facts. They all lead to the same conclusion: “it is essential to rationalize the use of energy on a world-wide scale, in order to ensure the sustainable future of the species that inhabit the planet and of the corresponding biodiversity that supports them”.

A transition to a sustainable energy system is necessary, also from “the economic point of view”, that guarantees the maintenance of our generation’s and future generations’ welfare, from a perspective of respecting the environment.

This transition requires significant effort in research, development and technological innovation, as well as greater social awareness of the energy problem. In the short and medium term, the objectives for implementing a sustainable energy system would include the application of measures such as:
• Encouraging energy saving and efficiency.
• Promoting renewable energy sources.
• The development of the necessary energy infrastructures to face the increase in consumption during this period of transition (gas-based infrastructures).

]]>