Home wind power, the Turby

We've waited years for an efficient home version of the wind powered turbine generator and here, new all over again, is the "Turby" by, who other than the Dutch team at Turby B.V.

This compact little wind turbine that can is the product of scaled down design, fit for urban environments. Quiet as an air conditioning unit, with adjustable height capability and an innovative vertical axis design, Turby can be mounted on roof tops or the side of any building. Like a glistening wind chime, the Turby can even spring from your garden.

The vertical curved blades allow Turby to catch wind from any direction including updrafts generated by high rise buildings, which is why it has been selected for installation at "Freedom Tower", the new World Trade Center in New York and the new JET Stadium.

Currently, in selected trials, the Turby has proven reliable and efficient by reducing home electric costs as much as two-thirds. The technology includes a permanent connection to the grid, when power consumption in the household is low, excess electricity generated by the Turby is fed back into the system and home owners receive a credit on their bill. In the future, a stand-alone version will be available for off grid locations.

While the unit is not available on the market just yet, the company plans to start commercial sales distribution within the year. The estimated price is $10,000 to $15,000; however, that price is expected to fall substantially as production increases.

We'll keep an eye on this one and update you as Turby comes to a dealer near you.

by Harlan Weikle
Greener Magazine