We just featured the largest wind turbine in the world, now here’s something at the opposite end of the spectrum: a household wind turbine. In the last few years, we’ve seen a lot of mini-wind turbines that haven’t turned out to be very useful. But the Windspire turbine from Mariah Power sounds interesting. The Windspire has a propeller-free vertical-axis design, and is expected to produce about 1800 kilowatt hours per year in 11 mph average wind conditions. That amount of wind power is roughly 25% of a typical household’s energy (or much more if you are particularly energy efficient).
The Windspire is 30 feet tall with a two foot radius, sized below typical residential zoning restrictions. Guidelines for installation sites are generally half an acre of land and relatively windy locations. The Winspire has just passed the ETL safety certification, which means it’s ready to go to market. It is expected to be released this spring, and priced at $3,995.
Windspire features a fully integrated, plug ‘n produce design, including a high efficiency generator, integrated inverter, and wireless performance monitor. The integrated design allows for simple installation (estimated to cost around $1,000). It incorporates a slow speed giromill rotor for virtually silent operation and improved safety and durability. It connects to the household power supply, offsetting electricity use and at times running the electricity meter backwards.
You can also get this wind turbine painted any color you like, to match the surroundings, to stand out as piece of functional art.
Sadly, these turbines do not work at all. We are the proud owners of $14,000 worth of non producing Windspires. In sixteen months of usage, the largest amount of electricity produced was a whopping .80 worth. That’s right, EIGHTY CENTS. We have attempted to work with the company on obtaining functioning replacements for over a year, all to no avail. Although the various company representatives insist they will make good and replace their “defective” (their words, not mine) turbines and inverters, they have been unable and/or unwilling to do so. I cannot recommend this product or this company. Run, do not walk, but run away from this fiasco. Caveat emptor!
Thanks for the review Donald. Do you by chance have an update as to weather or not the company has made things right with you or if you ever got the windspires to work properly?
Yes! something that that enables me to see telly when Im not in the uk!
what is the lowest cost, for a home with installation in the texas area corpus christi tx.
No shadows? Both photos clearly show shadows being cast by the spire.
In the left photo the bottom ring of the spire is casting a crescent-shaped shadow on the inverted cup at the top of the mast that the spire is mounted on.
In the right photo the spire and mast are casting a clearly visible shadow to the right starting at the base of the mast.
No shadows? I can clearly see shadows in both photos.
In the left photo there is a crescent-shaped shadow on the inverted cup at the top of the pole holding the spire.
In the right photo the sun is shining from the left. The rocks are casting shadows to the right. The pole holding the spire is also casting a shadow to the right.
But what would a lack of shadows prove? That the photographer used a flash during the day time to eliminate shadows? That is a common practice when photographing people in the sun to eliminate harsh shadows and reduce the contrast of a photo.