Posts Tagged ‘wind power’

Energy From Thin Air

October 7th, 2009

In our pursuit of green, clean energy it seems that we are going back to basics. Over five thousand years ago sailors used wind for travel and millers harnessed it to crush grain into flour.

Wind power is growing exponentially in this country.  Over the last five years wind power has quadrupled making the U.S. the leading producer of wind energy with 25,176 plants.  Over the next five years 40,000 more turbines will be installed many of which will be replacing older with more efficient models.

Even in the face of a global economic crisis, wind companies are hopeful and intend to replace 45% of the outdated models by 2015.  Wind companies are aiming to produce 20% of our nation’s energy by 2030 all of which will be nearly pollutant free.  Although they are clearly planning long term they still bring gale force power to today’s world.  Their growth in 2008 channeled some 17.7 billion dollars into the economy and in the first quarter of 2009 alone prevented 52 million tons of carbon dioxide from ever reaching the atmosphere.  Wind power and its applications will certainly blow you over.

The Power of Geothermal Energy

June 29th, 2009

geothermalEverybody knows about Wind and Solar Power as alternative energy, but there is a new kid on the block: Geothermal Power.

When a historic seminary in the heart of Manhattan went searching for a way to cut its energy costs in an environmentally friendly way, it didn’t turn to the heavens for sun or wind power but sought salvation in an unlikely direction for a religious institution. It looked underground.

Tapping the energy stored in the Earth, The General Theological Seminary plans to construct the largest geothermal project on the East Coast; large enough to supply water to heat and cool the seminary’s 275,000 square feet of space.

Currently, geothermal power accounts for only half a percent of the nation’s energy generation, but that is likely to double in the next few years with 103 new plants under construction. The Renewable Energy Laboratory estimates that if all the heat trapped up to 2 miles under the U.S. were tapped, it could generate enough electricity to meet all of the country’s power needs for 30,000 years.

Read more in the Chicago Tribune online.

Honeywell Wind Turbine from EarthTronics Coming to A Home Near You

June 15th, 2009

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Home Depot and other stores are starting to educate the public about wind power. And it’s about time because Ace Hardware will offer the EarthTronics Honeywill Wind Turbine, a small device rooftop device developed for home and business use. Ace is the launch partner for EarthTronics/Honeywell.The product will retail for $4,500 and it can account for 15% of a home’s energy use.

The Honeywell Wind Turbine is a gearless, “free wheeling’’ turbine that generates power from the blade tips (where the speed lies) rather than through a complex slow center shaft. By practically eliminating mechanical resistance and drag, the Honeywell Wind Turbine creates significant power (2000 kWh/yr) operating in a greater range of wind speeds (2-45 mph) than traditional wind turbines. The highest output, lowest cost per kWh installed turbine ever made. So powerful, so simple.

Watch their video.

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