I support DIYers with the guidance of a certified PV or Wind installer.

Again Buyer beware…roof top turbines may look good and make you feel better about your energy footprint, but KNOW the FACTS..

from the Cascade Engineering Website:
Swift power curve: 1.0 kW at 24.6 mph. How many of us have sustained winds of 24.6 miles per hour 24/7 on the roof??

I would agree wholeheartedly. I have not seen the offerings, but it is incredibly important that consumers be made aware of the realities of alternative energy – especially wind, which incorporates so many somewhat intangible variables. Nameplate capacity on either is not even close to actual output. If a mass of consumers go blindly into investing in alternatives with unreasonable expectations, which are not met, it will do irreparable harm to the industry.

Not only access to information, but access to professional advice and counselling should be mandatory before someone makes the commitment. This is in Lowe’s best interest as well.

With that said though. I am thrilled to see a large retailer making an effort to provide easy access to the materials necessary for the Do It Yourselfer to participate in alternative energy.

Michael Corder – The Energy Blog (http://energy.typepad.com)

B&Q takes wind turbines off shelves
10 February 2009
A range of turbines have been withdrawn from sale after a recent study revealed they do not work as effectively as first thought.
http://www.edie.net/news/news_story.asp?id=15977&channel=0

Although this article claims to be focused on the rural audience, the same rules go for a prospective urban, wind turbine installation. You cannot get away from the fact, urban areas have low wind speeds which is good–otherwise people would not find them comfortable places to live. A wind turbine reaching a rated output of 1kW at 13m/s [~29.1 mph] is not going to pay its way in this kind of urban environment. High-rise buildings, however, may be a different matter.

Results from the 2007-2008 12-month Warwick Wind Trials (WWT) in the UK reported discouraging wind energy yields for the 26 small, building-mounted wind turbines. WTs sited in a veritable plethora of urban canopies compared to rural areas that possess low surface roughness/texture. Small wind turbine manufacturers capacity claims fell far short of the results returned in this trial compared to their claims included in specification sheets.

Indeed, especially in California (I am not sure about Oregon), the small wind industry has been decreasing every year since 2002. The small wind industry could, however, use a boost. Generating electricity from wind energy close to where it can be used makes sense in a great deal of locales. Opportunities can exist for some (not all) small, urban wind turbine installations in a cityscape/built environment; but, decisions on the suitability and practicality requires vetting. The wind resource needs to be adequate, and the mounting location(s) of the WT(s) need to be properly sited in the prevailing wind direction.

Before I would recommend heading off to the local Lowes (or Ace Hardware Store, where next year, I understand you may be able to acquire a Honeywell WT6500 Gearless Blade Tip Power System, http://www.earthtronics.com/honeywell.aspx), I would first suggest visiting here, first:

http://greenterrafirma.com/power-from-wind-turbine.html

Bottom line:

1. Know your wind resource and local ordinances.
2. Know how to site your WT. Depending on the roughness of your terrain, you’ll need to think about where to install—on or near the structure. If on a rooftop, how high above the rooftop should the hub height be to capture the accelerating wind coming over the rooftop parapet?
3. Understand the WT specs (power curve) as per your individual requirements.

It’s dubious to know how robust the algorithms in these in-store kiosks are. Either way, be wary, as a consumer, and I recommend seeking the advice of a certified residential PV or small wind professional…
–
KIMBERLY (KIM) KING
Project Engineer & MSc Student, Renewable Energy Engineering
Centre for Renewable Energy Systems Technology (CREST)
Loughborough University
Loughborough, Leicestershire (UK)