harness the power of the wind
Many people in urban and suburban areas want to take advantage of the wind to lower their electric bills. Although its a hassle to get wind turbines approved in these types of areas because of the required tower height to achieve a feasible return on investment to break even on a wind power system. A new small scale wind turbine for homes and businesses called the Swift, made by a Scottish company called Cascade Engineering has developed a very unique wind turbine which will enable more urban locations to harness the power of the wind.
The Swift wind turbine is unique because it can bolt on right to the side of a building or on top of a roof with a very short pole thus making the installation process easier and more flexible compared to tower based wind turbines. According to the company the unit is vibration free making it safe for roof tops and one unit can produce up to 2000 kWh (kilowatt-hours) per year while keeping the noise under 35 decibels which means you can barely hear this wind turbine when its kicking out electricity.
The product is backed with a 5 year manufacturer’s warranty although is designed to last at least 20 years. Multiple units can be grid tied together to create a larger output and eliminate even more of your electric bill. The company says a typical installed cost can range from $10,000 to $12,000 and will pay itself back within 3 years depending on the electric rate, average wind speeds in your area and rebates and tax credits you’ll qualify for. The claim of 3 years seems quite aggressive on a system outside of California, what do you think? would you install one of these on your home or business?
