Rooftop wind power

A storm is brewing in the world of wind power. Advocates of renewable energy praise energy companies that invest in wind farms as leaders in their industry, and many people enjoy the idea of hundreds of massive wind turbines powering their communities from hundreds of miles away. Other people, however, are more skeptical.

After the rolling blackouts that plagued California in 2001 and the massive blackout that shut down the East Coast in 2003, and with the threat of terrorist attacks, hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes threatening to separate us from the power plants we rely on to maintain our way of life, Americans are beginning to want energy independence not only from foreign oil, but also from local energy monopolies at home.

Wind energy has been used in rural areas for millenia, powering mills used to grind corn in Afghanistan since the 7th century. Development of the water-pumping windmill supported the agicultural expansion of North America, allowing farming and ranching in areas otherwise devoid of readily accessible water. They also contributed to the expansion of the world rail network, pumping water from wells to refill the boilers of steam locomotives used at the time. The multi-bladed windmill sitting on a lattice tower made of wood or steel remains an iconic symbol of rural America.

As Americans moved from the country into the cities throughout the 20th century, we have become increasingly reliant on the infrastructure provided for us. In 1870, 50% of the US population worked as farmers and ranchers. Now fewer than 0.5% of Americans are directly employed in agriculture. Our literal and figurative distance from farms has enabled our productivity to increase, directly improving our standard of living, but it has also put us at risk due to the increasing size of the network separating us and the basic necessities that we need to sustain life.

We have taken note of this fact, and many Americans have begun taking action. A number have subscribed to the locavore movement, only eating food that is produced near where they live, and many have begun making their houses more efficient by switching over to CFL bulbs and more efficient appliances.

Urban populations now have the opportunity to invest in wind power to further reduce their dependence on the grid with rooftop wind turbines. While the economics of rooftop wind power are questionable, many early adopters of the technology are concerned less with whether the investment will save them money, and more with the peace of mind they get from becoming energy independent.

This article will be maintained as the availability of rooftop wind turbine systems increases, so continue to check back in the future to learn about the latest rooftop wind technologies.

Current Rooftop Wind Turbine Systems:

1. AeroVironment Architectural Wind Turbine

Future Rooftop Wind Turbine Systems:

1. Blue Green Pacific Vertical Wind Turbine