Small Wind Turbines

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Small wind turbines are a simple way to create clean energy for your home. It's a smaller financial investment than solar panels in most places and easier to install. Harnessing the energy of the wind isn't new. It's been done for centuries, most notably we have the windmills of the Netherlands and Greece that remind us that historically wind was used in farming and power generation. If we pause it's pretty easy to come up with other ways we use the power of the wind - in ventilation systems, sail boats or in a computer's small cooling system.


We have a wide variety of wind turbines created for today's market that don't follow the standard upright spinning blades version we've come to associate with on or off-shore wind farms. The Windspire pictured here is manufactured in Michigan in a former auto factory by Mariah Power. This turbine takes up less room than the more traditional wind turbines with rotating blades, often overcoming residential by-law issues about where wind turbines can be installed. The spires are silent and efficient and nice to look at, standing at 30 feet tall. Mariah also provides mast extensions that allow for up to an additional 20 feet to be added to it's height. These units are sold internationally.



The Energy Ball, manufactured by a company in the Netherlands, has five rotating blades, measuring 1.98 meters in diameter. The Energy Ball v200 pictured here is available for residential use and comes with an inverter and can produce a maximum of 2500 watts. When assembled it's fixed to a mast standing 15 meters high. This company distributes it's unique wind system to Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and is expanding it's market internationally. Want to be a distributor?


Honeywell in the US has engineered this funky turbine ideal for areas with typically lower wind speeds, which includes many of us. It's a gear less system. By almost eliminating the mechanical system that many wind turbines use, the Honeywell Wind Turbine captures energy from the blade tips. This greatly reduces resistance and drag. They can claim their turbine to be the lowest cost per kWh with highest energy output compared to other models on the market, in this class of small turbines. It's about half the cost to install one of Honeywell's turbines compared to others of similar power capacity and size. It comes with a computerized smart box and inverter.


Ropetec based in Italy has created this free standing wind turbine that strangely reminds me of War of the Worlds. Maybe we could stand some futuristic design in our communities. It would be an improvement against the mall-scapes we've been swallowed by in the last 30 years. This is a vertical axis turbine also sold internationally and well respected for reliability, silence and low maintenance. They have smaller systems than the 'Big Star Vertical' pictured here, that can be easily installed on roofs or in a yard. Ropetec's units have been tested in the harshest climates on the planet ensuring a well designed long lasting wind power source for small or large residential power needs.


Based in London - Quiet Revolution - has created this elegantly designed wind turbine. Their q5 turbine can be mounted on a roof or on the ground. It's design addresses the problem of wind turbulence, experienced more in cities and between buildings. This design will spin no matter what direction the wind is blowing. England has a great potential for wind energy generation, with national projects they are pursuing. Presently a large off-shore wind project is underway for London itself. They hope to meet up to 40% of energy needs by 2050 via wind generation. The issue of noise from turbines is greatly reduced in this sleek model by Quiet Revolution, that is simply interesting to look at. The qr5 has been available exclusively in Britian and they are starting to move into the international market this year. Two more designs are underway which will provide different sizes and energy capacities.

CRUDE - directed by Joe Berlinger

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Having been immersed in a world of intense consumption driven lifestyle for the last 60 years, we are now attempting to extricate our habitation on the planet from the carelessness pursuit of using everything on the planet to meet our needs. Sounds strangely like an addiction. We are making progress however.

We may not directly be aware of the suffering caused others in pursuit of boundless material wealth, power and crushing corporate domination of the world's markets and natural eco-systems. A pursuit that has been a ruthless hunt within the context that only the fit survive. A false pretense that supports a false truth revealing only an ignorance of our place in life - which is to live in harmony with nature, the complete life sustaining system of the planet. It's something we all witness in passing moments of our days - like the sun cresting on the morning horizon or a pigeon making a perfect landing. Glimpses of the web of life.

"Crude" is a film, three years in the making, which provides us a look at this ruthless pursuit of wealth in the form of oil. Director Joe Berlinger captures an account of Texaco's careless pillaging of oil reserves in the Ecuadorian Rain Forest and the damaged caused to the environment and the lives of it's indigenous people. Referred to as the - Amazon Chernobyl case - the Ecuadorian people filed a lawsuit against Texaco, now Chevron, in 1993 - Texaco has yet to pay. Presenting a complex situation from multiple viewpoints the film tells an important story of environmental peril and human suffering.

We can say we are pursuing cleaner energy technologies like solar, wind or biomass that offer a solution to oil dependency. We are in the process of solving the oil question. However these clean energy concepts are not new and have been adapted in a variety of ways historically in different cultures. We can feel good that we are working toward living sustainably and pride ourselves on what we are achieving as we now change our ways, but realistically we are yet faced with the consequences of where we find ourselves ecologically. This yet requires our on-going attention and long-term supportive efforts that mean to heal devastated natural habitats like the Ecuador Rain Forest.

Can we be making the mistake of living in another self created consumer bubble labeled - sustainable and green? Can we think of each other and the natural world outside of marketing concepts, fads and trends? It requires we listen and understand that natural systems require our greatest attention in order to heal - before we can say we are truly living sustainably. "Crude" shares with us not simply an eco-tragedy and the suffering caused, but reminds us afresh of the work we have to do in salvaging our damaged natural habitats around the world or in our backyards.

Learn more about Ecuador's environmental situation and ongoing legal campaign at CheveronToxico.com

Solar Survival Gear

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Our world of creative tech has provided for a succession of cool dependencies in the form of debit machines, social media, credit card instant access, application after iphone application of stuff that keeps us all very occupied. Are we able to pause for more than a day without going nuts? It wasn't long ago that cell phones didn't exist, no itunes, no texting, no calls from your other half at the store asking - what kind of ice cream you'd like.

Can you imagine if you will, that somehow it all stopped. After the pandemonium settled and you kick yourself for not planning ahead, you begin to review those things that you once thought would be a good plan for a day when the power went out, but never did anything about it because it just didn't seem that pressing or necessary. There were a few candles in the house and that was good for the moment.

Imagine your world without power, without TV, without twitter, absent of instant access to money at the nearest cash machine. A world without video games and personal computing. I know I would feel especially cut off without being able to connect to our readers via this blog.

Billions of people live like this every day, in a world without power and without technological dependence. How would we fare if it all stopped? We can't predict what the future holds when it comes to our power supply - that key connection in the background which allows it all to keep on running. That switch.

A back up solar power plan could make just such a hypothetical circumstance certainly much better, much less dire. We've come a long way from learning how to build a fire, the invention of the wheel, the engine and light bulb. We learned how to adapt our environment to our needs rather than adapting to our environment thoughtfully. But now here we are. Some solar survival gear sounds pretty good right about now. No panic, just a little pragmatism to stave off those cold winter nights when the power goes out. Solar Survival Gear, not a bad idea at all.

Solar Power is Convenient | Find Solar Power Kits

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I often think we under-estimated the full benefits of what the Sun provides us. As a perpetual source of warmth, light and energy we've harnessed to create electricity, the Sun is essential to life. It's not a corporate giant looming over us hogging the supply and making us pay, it's just a giant energy source that keeps giving. Check out these options for your home, off grid living or small scale power backup needs. Think ahead and plan your energy future or gradually adapt your home one panel at a time.

Grid Tie Systems for Home and Business

If you're looking to reduce your power bills and help the planet, then look no further. These systems will allow you to generate power and maybe even sell some power back to the utility company. Solar kits start at around $1,000 and just about anyone can install them. Talking to an electrician and getting permission from your power company before connecting anything is recommended.

Off Grid Cabin Kits

Off Grid kits are ideal for the cabin and or second home that needs power but the expense of bringing power from afar is out of reach. These kits can be customized for your location and consumption. The kits have been so popular that they were out of stock, but we expect to have them back this month. In the meantime, check out the selection and ask questions!

Small Kits for Remote or Backup Power

These systems are perfect for folks on the go that need power in remote or outdoor places. Whether its small electronics, lights, a sound system, or portable tools, these systems can fit the bill. Many people use them for lighting and a credit card machine as they tour the country going to craft shows. Some of the larger kits will even power a fridge or freezer. These kits come with everything you need to Plug and Play!

Products found at Solar Sphere. In business for over 10 years, Kriss lives off-grid with his wife in Colorado. He is passionate about Solar and is ready to help you get started.

Adaptation | Smart Grids and Solar Power

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Running across the terms smart grid or super grid has become common enough by 2010. What can smart grids do for civil society and our future? In the context of global scale clean energy systems it means everything. In fact in the face of global population growth, without the development of smart grids we might be hooped.

Understanding how technology can transform existing power grids into mega efficient power transmission systems is valuable on many levels. From a social perspective it affords us full consideration of how a global community working together can achieve success in the management of energy resources that foremost considers the health of our shared global environment. It's not a hard sell. We all want to see such a system realized. We want to say we solved this climate crisis by cooperating and using our knowledge wisely. Smart grids promises efficient management of our resources and a far more open system of energy supply management between consumers and suppliers, allowing us to respond to what has become a complex equation of how to meet large scale energy demand and protect the nature world.

Solar electric technologies have the potential for positively transforming community energy systems large or small, and present unquantified potential for growth in market supply, creating jobs while being kind to mother nature. What we are also beginning to see are communities changing how they use energy from within, and what is commonplace today stands to be radically different in 10-20 years. Solar energy is the most reliable, renewable and sustainable energy source we've decided to turn to and offers a foreseeable future.

Read more »

Clean Energy in 2010

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Following the Climate Conference in Copenhagen and a year filled with new and ambitious starts in renewable energy we can expect to see greater cooperation and support of clean energies like solar, around the world. 2009 saw greater awareness emerge on community and national levels, expansion of solar and clean energy industries globally, and alliances born between organizations working to facilitate a rapid shift away from carbon based fuels.

Our common concerns on environmental degradation of water, air, land and oceans are the underpinning motivations for pursuing a clean energy future. Those countries that aren't paying attention to our need for cooperative effort in creating clean energy systems, must continue to be pressured to act. Whether it be an international system of accountability or pressure from the public on governments, globally we will continue to strive toward a better future that has inspired us thus far.

Some clean energy ideas to follow this year:

• The expansion of renewable energy business in both developed and developing nations through short and long term incentives and private investment
  
• Community solutions through business ventures around smaller scale clean energy partnerships
• Continued action globally outside of the Copenhagen process. We can't wait around because the process of having a legal climate agreement becomes too complex. This means creative collaboration in using effective and timely solutions
  
• Focus on using available technology now in respect to implementing clean energy solutions globally. R&D will always continue, but we have great solutions that work today, we must simply see them realized in meeting the energy demands of a 2010 world. Those solutions are solar, wind, hydro concepts and biomass. Nuclear plants may seem feasible to some but how immediate are these solutions and does the public want Nuclear?
  
• Making the most of existing power transmission grids in disconnecting dirty energy and hooking up green energy to meet the needs of large populations
  
• Continued sharing of technology, knowledge and resources that rapidly moves forward clean energy change
• Leadership that uses effective governmental mechanisms supporting renewable energy change
  

We will continue to bring you stories of success about solar and clean energy, sustainable communities and climate solutions in 2010. These were the stories our readers responded to the most in 2009, which tells us people are interested in hearing about real time solutions. Thanks also to our contributors Solar Calfinder and Solar Sphere for sharing their experience with residential solar.

Ban Ki-moon Announces A Climate Deal

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Secretary General of the UN, Ban Ki-moon announces a climate deal today after delegates were asked to stay on into the weekend. Watch this video clip of the press conference announcement. You can watch the full press conference briefing at Copenhagen15's webcast page.

Watch the full briefing.

The Twelve Days of Copenhagen Christmas

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I have to say I would easily weigh in on the side of all well intentioned delegates working toward a common goal in Copenhagen, rather than be so quick to point out how we seem to think things aren't working. Do we really feel protesting at this point will contribute positively in Copenhagen? Are the delegates deaf? Gandhi didn't protest he just stood there and smiled a lot. He seemed to accomplish quite a bit for a small man. It's easy to be cynical, launch a protest, judge, criticize or deride the Copenhagen process, but in doing that are we simply adding to the noise that's not making a difference on climate change?

Yes many of us may be frustrated, but imagine what delegates are facing inside the Conference. It is not an easy march we have embarked on, but we are marching together, just not necessarily in sync at the moment. Maybe we just need some time to get the hang of it. After all, the process we are seeing in Copenhagen is easily the most complex and comprehensive undertaking we can say has ever been approached unitedly by the nations of the world. There is a lot of good taking place in the direction we are heading.

In the wake of a killer economic year around the globe, we have still been able to assemble and continue willingly and eagerly in the process of creating a legally binding treaty amongst all the nations of the world on the topic of halting and hopefully reversing our impact on the warming greenhouse effect. This is not quite like throwing a few billion at GM.

References to KP and LCA as the two tracks of the conference, may be considered not so good. We can slide down the rabbit hole on this one or understand what's happening at this stage in the process. Some nations seem to be clinging to KP or the Kyoto Protocal, and others are in favor of an LCA or Long-term Cooperative Agreement, each for their own reasons. Both are versions of a legally binding Treaty of some sort and lucky for everyone, all the nations want that. Yeah! That's pretty incredible that we at least can say we all want the same thing. This is a good place to be, which can be moved into what will work for everyone. My hope is that a merged new Treaty will surface. Merged in the sense that a new Treaty will incorporate, not replace, the key tenants of reducing harmful emission set up by Kyoto, that are important to many nations.

I'll leave off on my thoughts for now and I wish you all pleasant dreams and positive outlooks. I will share a bit of Christmas Cheer with you in parting.

The Twelve Days of Copenhagen Christmas

On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me:

12 bullet-proof limousines run on bio-ethanol
11 LED Christmas lights that work
10 Copenhagen beer (I keep hearing about that, anyway!)
9 Ministers bleating
8 protesters stopping traffic
7 delegation ladies directing traffic
6 exhausted Copenhagen organizers
5 golden Climate Texts
4 long-distance tele-conferencing Kings
3 pissed off leaders
2 ninja turtle negotiators
and a partridge in a Climate Treaty

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Copenhagen | Climate Justice

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Some focus points emerging this first week in Copenhagen revolve around climate justice. This is important to define on many levels. The US, in a press conference this week, completely rejects the idea of culpability on the issue of climate change, but easily used strong language to indicate they want a legally binding treaty, bringing sound carbon reduction goals projected to 2050, to the table. But the US makes it's point as creating an issue of past responsibility wouldn't really serve the purpose of sealing a deal. We need action now for what's happening today not hand wringing. The UNRIC - Road to Copenhagen working group, contributed the results of their work to the Conference around the idea of Climate Justice. Their report emphasizes the importance of cooperation, the need to acknowledge the voice of youth around the world, and the elimination of the idea of "us and them" in the process of negotiating climate protection, and indeed protection of all life on the planet.

China and the Group of 77, Bangledesh and Nepal all brought their important voices, that I know I especially enjoyed listening to. They responded appropriately and decidedly to a document circulated at the beginning of the Conference, which we can refer to as the Danish Text. A document proposed by the Danish government, rejected by the Group of 77 and China, as language that is simply not inclusive of all the nations of the world, but rather a document catering to the developed nations. They have responded with their own documents. This will be important to follow, especially for the developed nations, as the issues faced in Africa, Nepal, Bangladesh, Brazil and many other developing nations due to present climate change events are dramatic and difficult. The below 2 degrees temperature rise target for the Northern Hemisphere, will not work for Africa. 2 degrees is 3.5 degrees for them.

Clearly the important hurdles are and will remain our need for fair representation in negotiating and drafting a climate treaty. Considerations and accounting for the different climate change needs around the world will be a task. It is clear a well guarded fund will be in place to assist in the funding of mitigation and adaptation projects required in developing nations, with many developed nations pledging funds in the billions range. As a developing nation Indonesia set a beautiful example by ear-marking funds toward climate projects in their own country, with a goal to reduce emissions by 26%, demonstrating leadership. The US is contributing to this climate fund for developing nations, but was clear that funds would not be contributed for China, but rather those countries most in need.

Copenhagen has ousted Tiger Woods in the search engines so that gives us an idea of how much this is on every one's mind. One other issue to watch will be the US's complete rejection of Kyoto although they want a legally binding climate treaty. Hopefully this won't be a point that gets things hung up for too long, as time is no longer a luxury. Many nations support Kyoto and it serves as a reference point for us to build upon.

Again I would encourage anyone to reference the on-demand and live video coverage of the conference at the Copenhagen15 Webcast Page. Watch out for hype in the media because more often than not, they are missing the point and nature of the conference and aren't talking about the greater context of what's taking place. We will be writing more here as things progress.

Read about President Obama's speech on Climate Change Security at his acceptance ceremony receiving the Noble Peace Prize.

Copenhagen 15 | Climate Change Conference Dec 7-18

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As the historic Climate Change Conference is poised to begin in Copenhagen, where it is presently 3:30 Monday morning, I pause while writing at 6:30 on this chilly Sunday evening in Canada, imagining the countless numbers of people involved in this Conference, and the hopes of us all, that cooperation will prevail.

Today I simply wanted to mention to our readers that you can tune in and follow the Conference.  We will receive some news coverage of course, but you can also watch the Conference online. As the events unfold, which run December 7th -18th, they will be made available online in both original languages as well as English.  These webcasts will be posted at the Copenhagen 15 website.  There are many related side events taking place over the course of the Conference, some of which will be recorded and made available to watch also.

Follow recorded and on-demand webcasts of the Climate Change Conference here.  Let's wish them well.  Share your thoughts with us here on Climate Change and the Conference.  We will be following the Conference with you and blogging as we go.  More information on what is taking place at the Conference can be followed at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change website here.