White is More Aerodynamic

While driving through Bretagne, I loved looking out over the hills and seeing the marching rows of wind turbines, so linear and powerful against the green hills. I love the presence of them, strong and seemingly indestructible and so forceful. So modern and futuristic.

Guess what people, the future is here.

Indifferent Cows; Dirk Ingo Franke

I am enamored with wind turbines. I think they are the cats meow. Perhaps I would feel differently if the turbine were in my backyard?! But the truth is that I don't have a personal backyard at this point in my life; the world is my backyard. And I am thrilled to see wind turbines scattered throughout so many parts of our globe.  It's incredible to see such a massive object, with such little environmental impact. Wait, let me correct that statement. Such little negative impact. Such a small (I'm guessing somewhere around a 10 foot diameter) footprint on the earth, with such dramatic positive impacts. They are graceful and serene and mesmerizing. They do not use fuel and do not create air pollution. They generate energy using a renewable resource (wind) and while cows may not share my strong enthusiasm, they are nothing less than indifferent.

I found myself filled with questions about wind turbines. If you are curious, read on!

What is the cost for purchase and installation of a personal wind turbine?
They are expensive: $6,000 to $22,000. Information I found states that the wind turbine could make back the investment in six to ten years.

Okay, well, that's expensive, but maybe there are tax credits or other forms of financial assistance?
Some fantastic incentives exist, but they are different from state to state. For example, Louisiana will
cover 50% (maximum $12,500) of the cost of each system. Awesome! As a larger state with greater expanses of land and larger wind farm opportunities, Oregon has very different and much more extensive policies that include residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural tax incentives. Visit the DSIRE website for incentives for your state!

Can you get a little turbine? How about one for a suburban backyard?
Although mini-turbines exist, they don't appear to be very effective. An area of land no less than an acre is more appropriate. I expect that this will change over the years. Whoa....I just got a mental picture of IKEA having a store section of minimalist and classy wind turbines. A continuation on that small segway: the oyster transportation card of London is sponsored by IKEA and the small envelope that holds it has directions to all London  store locations. Nice marketing IKEA, you are awesome.

Will this really save me money? 
Apparently, the turbines can lower electricity bills by 50-90%. Sweet. But there is more to keep in mind...

"...the most cost-effective way to power your home is not to buy a larger, and therefore, more expensive wind turbine, but to examine how your electric bill got to be so high in the first place. It is always cheaper to use electricity efficiently, conserving where appropriate, than it is to generate large amounts of electricity that are squandered by energy-wasting appliances. Replacing your existing appliances with their most energy-efficient counterparts is always more cost-effective than installing a larger wind turbine."

- Mick Sagrillo, American Wind Energy Association

What is the life span of a wind turbine?
Wind turbines don't require any maintenance, operate automatically, and are designed to last up to 20 years. Apparently they can be refurbished to add on an additional 15 years of life. This seems like a pretty short life to me. I couldn't find information on how much "refurbishment" would cost, but I expect that it has a substantial price tag.

Wait a second, but we just learned that the turbine might not re-coop the investment for fifteen years. So electricity is only free for five years and then I have to buy a new one?
No answer here, but it sounds like yes. However, wind turbine technology has grown tremendously in the last fifteen years, so presumably, it will in the next fifteen as well. Still lingering on that IKEA image...

Is there any motor involved, at all?
Wind turbines don't have motors. They are constructed with very few moving parts and are powered solely by wind. 

How do wind turbines hold up in the event of an earthquake, hurricane, tornado, etc.?
It seems to depend on who installed it and what the quality of the unit is. And how strong the anchor is.

Do you have to get permission from your city or state to install the turbine?
Wind turbines require a Certificate of Approval (Noise) under section 9 of the Environmental Protection Act (EPA). But as usual, exceptions can always be made.

How do you hook it up to your own house and how does the electricity rebate work?
Apparently, wind turbines are pretty easy to hook up to your house. Now, I'm not saying that I or you could do it, but it's a pretty simple process for a professional. No wiring will need to be changed or modified to accommodate the turbine. After installation, you will have two utility meters: the standard one and your wind meter. Here is some more good news: federal regulations require utility companies to connect with and purchase power from small (less than 80MW) wind turbine systems.  When your wind turbine generates more electricity than needed for your personal use, the utility company is required to buy it back.


N says that wind turbines can be really noisy. How noisy is noisy?
Wind turbines make about as much noise as a washing machine. There is some controversy about whether the noise can negatively effect people over the long-term. 

Why are they always white? Why not fuchsia or pin-striped or covered with advertisements or patterns that create a trippy kaleidoscope effect?
N says that white is "more aerodynamic." I'm not buying into that one. But a little research found an article that suggested that black is the more aerodynamic of colors, at least for racing cars.  I couldn't find a suitable answer to this question, so perhaps there is a niche market for yours truly in the field of "wind turbine decorative arts?"

Some additional thoughts:
I want one for my very own.

Additional research yet to be completed:
Are there communities who have banded together to invest in wind turbines to be used by all members? I would love to read some stories on this...but no time to research. 

*****
For more articles and information, check out these links on Wind Turbines!

General FAQ's from the American Wind Energy Association

Check state-by-state FAQs from the The United States Department of Energy: Wind Powering America.

DSIRE: a great database of state incentives for renewables and efficiency. This site has rules, regulations, tax credit information, financing info, etc.

Cool!! Plans are in the works for a GIANT offshore wind turbine that mimics a spinning sycamore leaf (proposed by British company Wind Power Limited.

Wikipedia information on wind power and wind turbines.

A story about the effects of wind turbines in inner Mongolia.