2.4kW Skystream wind turbine from Southwest Windpower

Wind energy has been used for thousands of years to pump water, mill grains, and move ships across lakes and seas.  Windmills became a fairly standard fixture on farms across rural America during the 20^th century.  Eventually, the windmill was used to generate electricity, and ultimately gave birth to more modern wind turbines in the 1980's.  Since then, dramatic advances in the efficiency of wind power production have created tremendous opportunity for use in residential and commercial applications.

The United States initially took a lead in the development of wind turbines, but the wind power industry in Europe established much higher gains in terms of the percentage of power provided by wind.  According to the 2008 World Wind Energy Report, the US has reclaimed its position to boast the largest installed windpower capacity (25,170 megawatts), but the energy produced from wind represents only about 1.3% of our total consumption.  This remains tiny in comparison to Denmark, with 19%, Spain and Portugal with 11% each, and Germany and Ireland with 7% each.  In the US, it is estimated that three states alone, Texas, Kansas and North Dakota, have enough wind power potential to supply the entire country's current demand. 

 While the wind may come and go, it is by and large very predictable and reliable.  The American Wind Energy Association provides wind maps that show general trends.  Another source, FirstLook, provides more detail readings for specific areas.  You can select a point on the map to get an estimate of the average wind speeds for that area.

To get reasonably good power production, you should have a minimum of 10 mph average winds, though 12 mph winds produce a substantial increase in power production.  Within a given area, a flatter topography with fewer obstructions (like a river valley) posess higher winds than hilly or forested lands.  The Griggs-Putnam Index can be used to look for prevailing winds by observing deformities in vegetation.  In windier areas, you'll see an imbalance in the growth of tree branches, with a greater proportion of branches leaning downwind.

Another consideration is turbulence.  Obstructions that redirect the wind flow will create a spinning effect, which adversely affects the performance of the wind turbine.  With this in mind, a rule of thumb is to mount the turbine on a tower 20 feet higher than any obstruction within 250 feet.  The picture below illustrates wind flow, turbulence, and how different tower heights fit into the flow.

It's important to minimize turbulence when selecting a site

The Skystream 3.7 wind turbine (pictured above) is a very popular turbine due to its all-inclusive design.  The unit is intended to be used as a grid-tied solution - supplementing existing electric power from the local utility.  The inverter, which converts DC power to the AC power that most appliances use, is housed in the turbine itself so the output is easily streamed into the existing electrical system.  The turbine has a power* rating of 2.4KW, which means it is capable of producing 2.4kW of power at its peak performance, with 29 mph winds.  In typical 12 mph winds, the system will produce roughly a third of the average home's electric needs. The installed price, without financial incentives, starts at about $15,000.  Read about sample Skystream installations>>

For smaller off-grid applications, such as in cabins, trailers and boats, a battery-based system is ideal.  The Air-X wind turbine is a 400W turbine, designed to charge one or more batteries to run lights and other DC-based appliances.  The battery power can also be converted to AC using an inverter.  This turbine will produce 38kWh per month with sustained winds of 12 mph.  The installed price without incentives starts at about $2,500.  Read about sample Air-X installations>>

In urban settings where the built environment results in increased turbulence, vertical-axis wind turbines can be more effective.  Traditional wind turbines spin on a horizontal axis, parallel to the ground.  Vertical axis turbines, on the other hand, spin around the tower itself, and are less susceptible to turbulence.  The Mariah Windspire is a 1.2kW wind turbine that can be easily incorporated into a residential or commercial setting.  The turbine produces approximately 166kWh of power per month in 12 mph winds.  The installed price before incentives are applied starts at $10,000.  Read about sample Windspire installations>>

Wind is a rich, clean, abundant source of energy, and if you are blessed with sufficient resources to benefit from this gift, please be sure to consider the worthwhile investment.  In the past, people have been quick to curse the wind, but now many are smiling upon their newfound fortune!

Solar PV panels and wind turbine charge off-grid battery powered system

McCown Gordon Construction is one of the largest general contractors in the Kansas City area, and is practicing sustainability as they grow.  Their environmental commitment can be seen in many aspects of their work, but one of the most visible statements the company makes is with their eco-friendly Green Trailer.

The trailer is full of smart, money-saving and environmentally-friendly ideas.  The most visible, of course, are the solar panels and wind generator installed by The Energy Savings Store.  With the exception of the high-efficiency air conditioning system (which is used only on the hottest summer days), the off-grid 1.8kW solar array and 400 watt AirX wind turbine charge batteries which power everything in the trailer, including low-voltage lights, office equipment, kitchen appliances, and an LCD screen.  The trailer's energy efficiency is so impressive that it is often used to charge power tools and other needs!

The trailer was designed to be very energy efficient, using spray foam insulation to minimize leakage.  The need for artificial light is minimized by the effective use of natural daylight, and solar window shades allow light in but keep the weather out -reducing heating and cooling loads by 40 percent.   The trailer has three solar-powered exhaust fans that keep the air fresh.  A composting toilet eliminates the need for a portable "Johnny-on-the-Spot" toilet, saving nearly 1,600 gallons of water a year.

The roofing and exterior paneling features Energy Star Rated recycled metal, and the interior paneling is made from recycled lumber.  The trailer is full of additional recycled materials, and any materials left over in the construction were reused in other projects rather than being sent to a landfill.

McCown Gordon estimates that if each of the 1250 job site trailers in Kansas City were all converted to Green Trailers, it would save over 42 million kilowatt hours of electricity every year - enough to power  3,500 homes.  It would also save over two million gallons of water, and probably put the porta-potty people out of business!  For more information, see  http://greentrailer.mccowngordon.com/.

When a major equipment failure disrupted the availability of electric power to this system, a diesel-powered generator was brought in to power the system while a more long-term solution was sought. Replacing the failed equipment was an enormous expense, as was cabling or trenching the contaminated soil beneath the concrete jetway.

An off-grid solar application was considered, and ultimately cost-justified in several ways. It was less expensive than the equipment replacement or trenching, and also less expensive than the diesel generator. The primary expense was the cost of the generator, but the labor required to refill the fuel every other day quickly became a maintenance headache. When diesel fuel rose to $4.50 per gallon, the decision was solidified to invest in a renewable energy solution for the long term.

The system uses 24 2-volt batteries, designed to power the security system for five or more days with no sun or wind. The primary source of power comes from 30 200W solar panels, yielding a total of 6kW of power. Because the system needed to be engineered to handle the shortest days of the winter, two 400W AirX wind turbines were added to the system to supplement the solar power generation. The total system is estimated to generate an average of about 800 kWh of power each month.

On the flat and unobstructed grounds of the airfield, the sun and wind are abundant. With those conditions, it’s likely that this is only the first of many solar and wind power generating systems at the airport - exactly the kind of thing that will enable us to all live happily ever after!

The Energy Savings Stores provides solar energy and wind power solutions throughout Missouri, Kansas and Illinois.

Farm house has solar PV on the upper roof, and solar thermal (for water heating) on the lower roof

The Green Dirt Farm, located just north of Kansas City in Weston, Missouri, is a small community-based farm dedicated to producing healthy food in a sustainable environment.  The entire farm complex was designed to be a net-zero energy farmstead, producing 100 percent of the energy for the operation using a combination of solar and wind.  Chris DeVolder, the home's architect, calls it "the greenest house in the Midwest, possibly in the country."

From the ground up, this farm was built with sustainability in mind.  Most of the materials used in the construction were salvaged from local demolished buildings (including a reclaimed church railing as the rail in the loft of the barn!)  The designers largely limited themselves to these materials, and any new materials used in the home were considered environmentally-friendly.   It was a true collaboration between owner, architect and builder.

The house uses only 25 percent of energy required in a typical home of its size, and uses no fossil fuels to heat or cool. This is accomplished in part using a passive solar design that shades the home from the sun in the summer but absorbs the solar heat in the winter.  Complementing this is a geothermal heat pump, with radiant heating system in the floor.  In addition, the home uses a small word-burning masonry heater as a back-up heating source, and doubles as a Swedish oven for bread-baking.

2.4kW Skystream wind turbine provides half of the power used on the farm

The Energy Savings Store was selected to design, engineer and install the renewable energy systems used on the Green Dirt Farm in 2005.  The electricity used in the home and barn comes from a 2.4kW Skystream wind turbine, perched atop a 70' tower.  Complementing this is a 2.4kW Uni-Solar PV laminate system on the home's metal roof.  These two energy sources, coupled with the efficiencies designed into the home, enable the owners to live and operate their farm with a "net-zero" energy requirement.  The home is actually connected to the utility grid, so that in the event that more power is consumed than produced at any given point in time, the system can draw additional power from the grid.  On the other hand, when more power is being produced than consumed, the utility meter spins backward, pushing the excess electricity out onto the grid.  The home also contains a battery backup system, so that in the event of power outages, they can run safely on their own backup power.

Solar thermal energy is also used to heat the potable water in the home.  A 5kW SunEarth glazed panel solar water heating system was installed by The Energy Savings Store to heat water in a 120 gallon tank, enabling the owners to use very little energy to heat water used both personally and in the farm operations.  Solar water heating systems typically reduce energy use by up to 80 percent.

Finally, solar energy is used for space heating in another small building on the farm.  Several years after the home was built, a small cabin was built on the property to house the farm's manager, and the owners came back to The Energy Savings Store for guidance.   The house was designed with a south-facing wall, on which a 1.5kW SolarSheat solar air heating system was installed.  This glazed panel system is self-powered, using a small photovoltaic (PV) panel to power a fan that draws air from the bottom of a room up through a heated-duct and back out the top into the room.  The panels are ideal for a south-facing wall on a great room, but can be installed on a south-facing roof as well.

The Green Dirt Farm owner's commitment to healthy, organic food and a sustainable living gives us a great model for home development.  Everyone involved in the project shared and realized the same vision, and now the path has been cleared for others who wish to create a sustainable, environmentally friendly living space.

2.4kW Skystream 3.7 from Southwest Windpower

 The Sunset Drive Office Building in Johnson County, Kansas was designed from the start to be very efficient to own and operate.  After leasing the majority of their office space, it was determined that developing or purchasing property would be a more cost-effective and sustainable strategy.  This new office building is saving taxpayers almost $650,000 per year in actual lease costs, plus another $1.5 million in avoided future leases.  It is a capital asset that will appreciate in value as well.

As part of their Green Building Initiative, Johnson County chose to seek LEED Gold certification by the US Green Building Council for the 128,000 square foot building.  The facility was designed for flexible use, with movable floors, walls and ventilations system.   It was also designed with energy efficiency in mind, with energy costs more than 40% lower than comparable office buildings.  This was achieved with extensive use of natural daylight, passive solar energy, a state-of-the-art HVAC system and a  highly efficient building exterior. 

 The facility also enjoys the energy generated by the Skystream wind turbine installed by The Energy Savings Store.   The 2.4kW turbine sits on a 33' tower,  and the electricity produced flows into the utility meter.

For more information on this facility, check out the official press release.

Frieze Harley-Davidson dealership with Skystream 3.7 wind turbine certified LEED Gold

The nation’s first Harley-Davidson dealership has been certified as LEED Gold by the US Green Building Council.  Frieze Harley-Davidson of O’Fallon, IL built a new 33000 square ft. showroom with sustainability in mind. A key feature is that the facility was built with insulated concrete forms to make the building very energy efficient.  Over 40 solar lighting tubes were used to bring in as much natural daylight as possible, minimizing the need for artificial lighting. The building is also heated with a radiant heating system that is fueled by used motor oil.

One of the most recognizable features of the building is the wind turbine installed by The Energy Savings Store. The 2.4kW Skystream is mounted on a 60’ tower to maximize the amount of wind captured, and is expected to produce 4,200kWh of power annually.

Frieze Harley-Davidson is located in O'Fallon, Missouri, about 50 minutes outside of St. Louis. The Energy Savings Stores provides solar energy and wind power solutions throughout Missouri, Kansas and Illinois.

Skystream wind turbine captures clean, renewable energy near New Town farmhouse

New Town, a mixed development of residential, retail and commercial, is a planned community with an emphasis on green living.  The entire 750-acre tract of prairie land was optimized to promote a five-minute walk anywhere within five neighborhood centers.  Homes are all built near lakes and canals, specifically designed to capture stormwater runoff from the entire development.

The community includes neighborhood parks, restaurants and markets, where you can walk or bike rather than drive.  Food is locally produced on an organic farm, powered by a wind turbine installed by The Energy Savings Store. The 2.4kW Skystream wind turbine sits atop a sleek 45' tower, generates about a third of the farmhouse's energy requirements.

Be sure to check out New Town for a look at clean, renewable energy in a decidedly green community!

New Town is located about 40 minutes from St. Louis, Missouri. The Energy Savings Store provides solar energy and wind power solutions throughout Missouri, Kansas and Illinois.

William A. Kerr Foundation uses 3.5kW solar PV system with 2.4kW Skystream wind turbine

The William A. Kerr Foundation took an old bathhouse building near the riverfront on the north side of Laclede’s Landing and converted it to the city’s first LEED Platinum certified buildings. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a standard established by the US Green Building Council to establish points of merit for design innovation, location, sustainability, water and energy efficiency, materials used, and quality of the environment.

The facility, located at 21 O’Fallon, is used for office space by foundation trustees, and serves as a safe place for local cyclists to store bicycles and change in and out of biking gear after treks on the nearby St. Louis Riverfront Trail. The building is also used to showcase a variety of green technologies, including the solar PV system and wind turbine installed by The Energy Savings Store.  The combined output of the 3.5kW Uni-Solar PV laminate system and 2.4kW Skystream wind turbine offsets nearly 25% of the building's power needs. Other features that contributed to the LEED certification include a green roof terrace, low-flow showers and faucets, dual-flush toilets, skylights, and the use of a variety of recycled materials in the rehab project.

The site is used to host a variety of events, which in turn showcase the eco-centric features of the building for education purposes.