Cheap new turbine could turn your roof into a wind farm

Micro-wind has always been a bit of a dream of mine. I want there to be wind turbines on every roof that I can see out of my little second-story window. And while that might be a bit of a pipe dream (my town happens to be classified by 3Tier's wind mapping system as a 1, the least windy of all classes) it might be possible for much of America. 

The Swift turbine is a new ultra-light, ultra-quiet wind turbine that has begun showing up on rooftops, mostly of commercial installations. And in places with wind classes 4 - 6, it's very nearly as cheap as getting your electricity from the grid.

Swift Turbine's patented design has several advantages over traditional turbines. First, the dual tail on either side of the turbine keeps it facing into the wind, but also greatly reduces noise and vibration. While many wind turbines can roar in high winds, the Swift Turbine is whisper quiet, making it ideal for in-city use.

 

Already the turbines are being installed on businesses and rooftops in windy areas of America. But they do have a great deal of competition from other small-wind manufacturers out there.

It will be interesting to see if small-wind is going to be a significant power source for Americans and, if so, which manufacturers will go big in the next ten years.