I just caught a really cool video on the architectural idea of integrating vertical and horizontal-axis turbines into urban design and planning. From a company called Aerotecture comes the Aeroturbine — a quiet, vibration-free, bird-safe, turbine that can be installed on existing rooftops or built into the architecture of new buildings to provide clean renewable electricity at its site of consumption. According to the site, the unique characteristics of these turbines allow them to be self-regulating in the face of changing wind speeds and also utilize multi-directional and gusting breezes. From the site,
The structural features of the Aeroturbine allow for its easy integration into new or existing buildings: the modular/stackable cages are additive and can be mounted in a vertical, horizontal, or diagonal orientation. There are currently two models of Aeroturbines available, the 510V and the 520H. Both models of the Aeroturbine may be easily integrated with solar photovoltaic systems.
In order to operate efficiently, Aeroturbines must be installed 40 ft. above the ground, above or away from surrounding trees and other obstruction, and in an area with average wind speeds of at least 10 mph.
Already this year, we’re starting to see some new structures incorporate turbines into their designs. It’s a welcomed trend that shows renewable energy isn’t something that needs to be hidden. It can be celebrated and beautiful — as well as practical and useful to a building’s energy footprint.
For more information, check out the company’s official site.
4 Comments
This is a pretty amazing design and better than that, it is inspiring artwork and functional. I work for a design college and I love seeing more of what goes on here at Art Center College more and more in different places all over the world. Great design always brings people together and makes the world work a little more smoothly ya’know? Especially in light of the world’s new challenges with recyclable materials and sustainability. If you don’t know about it already, there is a big conference going on in Barcelona in March that Art Center is hosting called The Global Dialogues (http://blog.globaldialogues.eu/). The title of it is Disruptive Thinking and there will be amazing designers and pundits and philosophers there from all over discussing how people must think about design (in addition to business and climate change too) in new and exciting, “disruptive” ways. These turbines here certainly reflect that type of conceptual thinking. Here’s a link to its Web site: http://www.artcenter.edu/dialogues
Notice there is already a Chinese ripoff design of this turbine.
The free ride really exists! When was the last time you heard of a shipment of fuel for the Hoover Dam? Solar works the same way, so does wind power -you collect it today, it comes back tomorrow! For Free!, and every day - Yes there is so a free ride, unlike our capitalist propaganda brainwashing tells us, and it is hard at first to think past the brainwashing too! Just think “Hoover Dam still producing, fuel free, pollution free, after all these years!”
We now have a “super-battery” that can absorb the surges from wind power and it will improve wind power efficiency greatly. SEE:
Breakthrough battery can charge up in seconds
http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/article5891194.ece?Submitted=true
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=better-battery-lithium-ion-cell-gets-supercharged
And as to how much Wind power is available, here’s what our own Scientists say: SEE:
There is as much wind power potential (900,000 megawatts) off our coasts as the current capacity of all power plants in the United States combined, according to a new report entitled, A Framework for Offshore Wind Energy Development in the United States, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, and General Electric. http://www.capecodtoday.com/news246.htm01/01/09
So nuclear, and the fuel providing mines owned by the Uber-rich, is simply one engineering error away from Armageddon, very expensive, and produces a waste product that kills people and lasts forever! SEE:
Chernobyl Movie
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5384001427276447319
“Only the small secrets need to be protected. The big ones are protected by public incredulity.”
– Marshall McLuhan
Do you have any idea how much energy can actually be produced using Becker’s design? Also, are they being commercially produced or have intentions to be?
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[...] Using the Urban Turbine: A quiet, bird-safe, vibration free turbine that can be installed on existing rooftops as well as designed in to new buildings, the Aeroturbine is a way of generating clean renewable electricity. A host of modern features including its ability to change and regulate according to the wind speeds and utilize multi directional gusting breezes will be key for urban planners who see a greener future. [...]
[...] Ecotality [...]