A Cleaner Way to Keep the City Running

Submitted by Charles Frost on Mon, 01/05/2009 - 14:10.

Small Wind Turbines On An Apartment Building

The New York Times had a good article on some new Building Integrated Wind Turbines that have been installed on an apartment building in the South Bronx.
Here is a portion of that article:

A Cleaner Way to Keep the City Running

By C. J. HUGHES

FOR centuries, grist-grinders and sailors have exploited the wind. Now, New York developers, homeowners and city leaders might be coming around.

A handful of buildings are already drawing electricity from wind turbines, which typically resemble table fans, or mounted airplane propellers.

Unlike some of the skyscraping versions that dot rural hillsides, small turbines supply power directly to homes without first sending it through a utility company’s lines.

One major sticking point in the city is that densely packed buildings tend to scatter breezes, making it tough to capture steady gusts. Although this and other kinks need to be addressed before the widespread rollout of small turbines is possible, there are signs of gains.

“We’re always excited to try new things in the area of green building,” says Les Bluestone, a partner in the Blue Sea Development Company, which is building a five-story brick apartment building in the Melrose section of the South Bronx that will be partly powered by wind.

Its 10 one-kilowatt turbines, from AeroVironment of Monrovia, Calif., will generate electricity for lights in the building’s hallways, elevators and other common areas.

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From: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/04/realestate/04post.html?_r=2&ref=earth

(Cross posted to GCBL)

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