Turbine study no breeze

Two poles rising 60 feet above the dry yellow grassland balance two spinning plastic balls.

Upon a closer look, the balls are actually curved turbine blades that resemble spheres when turning. The silence on this land, located east of Canyon, is broken only by the wind.

The two turbines have been operating for about four months. Engineers at West Texas A&M University are collecting data on the longevity, power curve and noise level of the two units. The goal is to submit the data to the Small Wind Certification Council, a regulatory group that decides if small turbines meet certain performance and safety standards. The council will use what WT has collected to certify the turbines.

“State government agencies out there will not give their citizens (a utilities) rebate unless there is a certification body they laterally trust,” said Robert Thompson, chief executive officer of Home Energy Americas, the manufacturing company the two Energy Ball turbines belong to. “So in that sense, it’s an attempt on part of the government to level the playing field.”

Residential turbines can cut energy bills and help utility companies with surplus power. They usually cost from $3,500 to $7,000 to install.

HEA’s turbines are located at Nance Ranch, farm property WT is using for wind energy projects. The university has 14 turbine holes on the property, eight of which have been contracted. So far, three turbines are up and submitting data to WT.

Ken Starcher, assistant director of WT’s Alternative Energy Institute, said the longevity test for HEA’s turbines will require his facility to continuously run the units for at least six months. He said the average timeline for the longevity test is eight months.

Starcher said the AEI is testing the Energy Ball’s power curve by measuring its performance under different wind conditions.

Like other turbines, the blades on the Energy Ball model are initially turned by the wind. The unusual aerodynamic characteristics of the turbines then cause the turn of the blades to accelerate at five to seven times the speed of the wind.

One of the turbines is 2,500 watts, while its neighboring unit is 500 watts.

WT has yet to perform the noise-level tests, but Starcher said that part of the project will determine if the two Energy Ball units would be acceptable in a residential area.

“It helps with zoning requirements,” he said. “As long as it stays within the (noise) guidelines, then they should be happy.”

David Carr, the AEI’s other assistant director, said the blade design of the two turbines reduces noise.

“They don’t have a tip on it, which is what creates the sound you usually hear,” he said, referring to the blades of most commercial turbines.

While the Energy Ball cannot eliminate utility bills, the turbine will give homeowners more flexibility with energy use, Starcher said.

“They would reduce the energy need you have on a home,” he said. “They’re not going to eliminate the need to pay for electricity, but you can live the life you want.”

The two turbines each have small boxes that collect data, including power output, wind gusts and direction, and humidity levels. The ranch is connected to a wireless network, and the data can be retrieved online.

“That way I can check the data during the middle of the night,” Carr said jokingly.

Carr said it took about a year for WT to start working on the turbines at the ranch.

In addition to Energy Ball models, there is a 60-foot-tall, 10,000-kilowatt turbine at the ranch. The blades and rotor shaft on that turbine, which belongs to Garden Energy, a company based out of Long Beach, Calif., resembles an aircraft propeller.

Carr said his facility has worked on Garden Energy’s unit for a few weeks. He said the goal is to test the turbine’s efficiency and give Garden Energy information it will need if the company wants to make improvements.

“It’s important that the tests are done by independent third parties,” said Philip Watts, president of Garden Energy. “They’re essential to validate the performance of the designs.”

Five more turbines will join the Garden Energy and HEA units at the ranch in the near future, but there are still six holes that WT is looking to fill.

Starcher said the Small Wind Certification Council has a list of 16 groups that could send turbines to WT.

“They haven’t checked in with us, but they’re interested,” he said.

Starcher said the private contracts with Garden Energy and HEA do not allow his facility to disclose the amount of money both companies are paying the WT engineers to work on the turbines. But he said the cost to perform standard series of testing on turbines usually runs from $45,000 to $60,000.

David Carr, assistant director of Alternative Energy Institute, stands under a wind turbine at the Regional Wind Test Center, a department of West Texas A&M University . The turbine produces 10 kilowatts of power. [1]

David Carr, assistant director of Alternative Energy Institute, checks the Wi-Fi data logger for the Energy Ball at the Regional Wind Test Center. [2]

The Energy Ball wind turbine spins in the wind at the Regional Wind Test Center. David Carr said the Energy Ball is quieter than other wind turbines because of its blade design. The Energy Ball produces 500 watts of power. [3]

Next  

Stephen Spillman / Amarillo Globe-News

The Energy Ball wind turbine spins in the wind at the Regional Wind Test Center. David Carr said the Energy Ball is quieter than other wind turbines because of its blade design. The Energy Ball produces 500 watts of power.

www.HomeEnergyAmericas.com

V-200 Energy Ball wind turbine installed in Saint John, Virgin Islands

Home Energy Americas Website

Home Energy Americas Website

Paramount School of Excellence

Link to the PDF file PSoE Media Kit

ParamountSchool.org

3020 Nowland Avenue

Indianapolis, Indiana  46201

317-775-6660

Energy legislation that would include a renewable electricity standard (RES) “absolutely” remains a possibility for this year, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D), said this week.

The statements, coming as the Senator turned his attention to his annual energy conference in his home state of Nevada next week, were welcomed by the wind energy industry and its advocates, which prior to the August recess reached a far different conclusion from Reid about the ability of an RES to pass. Reid contended that an RES does not have the necessary 60 votes to avoid a filibuster, but wind energy advocates insisted that it does.

However, any gap between vote tallies appears to be narrowing. In his comments to reporters this week, Reid said two Republicans have expressed interest in an RES. While Reid did not name those Senators, Sam Brownback (Kan.) is one Republican who has publicly endorsed a 15% RES in recent weeks.

In a statement in early August, AWEA CEO Denise Bode said, “There is tremendous bipartisan support for the renewable electricity standard, and we’re encouraged that Senate leadership is open to revisiting the bill in September. In recent days several Senators, including Republicans, made strong arguments for new policy to bring stability and continued growth to the American wind energy industry. That should come as no surprise. The RES has the greatest job-creation and job-protection potential of any energy policy Congress can consider this year. We are advancing our discussions with RES supporters in both parties to keep our industry competitive and to build a thriving clean energy manufacturing industry.”

This week, AWEA issued the following statement from Bode in response to Reid voicing confidence on the Senate energy bill:

“Today’s statement by Senator Reid that he sees more bipartisan support for a renewable electricity standard is a sure sign energy legislation is still very much in play. A recent Op-Ed by Senator Mark Udall and letter signed by labor, leading utilities, renewable energy trade associations, and most of the environmental community shows momentum is building throughout the nation. There is every reason the Senate can pass energy legislation with an RES.”

Congress returns to Washington, D.C., on September 13, but its working days are fewer this fall because of the election year.

Anna Folmnsbee

McKinney’s newest Fire Station brings unexpected benefits to the community

McKinney is still among the fastest growing cities in the country. To keep up with public safety needs for a rapidly increasing number of residents in a challenging economic climate, city leaders needed a costeffective fire station that could be built quickly. Enter Fire Station #8.

This latest addition to the McKinney Fire Department is now open for business after the decision was made to renovate an existing building for the new station.

“It was clear to city and fire department leaders that McKinney needed a fire station in this area of the city. However, during a time when we had to look for ways to cut spending, we had to come up with an inventive way to meet the needs of the community without all of the costs traditionally associated with building a structure from the ground up,” said Fire Chief Mark Wallace. “Our citizens and the firefighters are extremely pleased with the results.” Fire Station #8, located at 3445 Alma Rd., opened on May 7, fully staffed and ready to respond to the western portion of the city, including Craig Ranch.

City and fire department leaders dedicated the building in a ceremony held on June 26.

Firefighters were shifted from other fire stations to cover the workload, including operation of an engine and ambulance.

Creating a fire station out of an existing building presented its own set of unique challenges for architect Lawrence Wood of Architects Phelps / Wood, longtime partners with the City of McKinney for designing municipal facility projects.

“The original building had many unique features that aren’t typical to a fire station. We had to adapt our design and functional requirements to the struc- Ture of the existing building. You can change some things, but you have to respect what’s already there. Features that were added to the existing structure complemented the existing building.

It was designed to house a utility company, and they had built these big spaces with the arched roof. That’s unusual and you don’t see that a lot,” said Wood.

However, he continued that the “natural layout for a fire station” in the building accommodated the design easily, in the end resulting in a station that met the goals for the station by saving time and money.

Time and cost savings weren’t the only goals, though. McKinney is home to many private and public buildings with green features that help reduce the use of energy, water and other natural resources.

Station #8 is no different.

The station includes many examples of sustainable building features, including solatubes, a wind turbine and water-saving plumbing fixtures. The wind turbine is an Energy Ball V200 manufactured by McKinney-based Home Energy Americas, LLC, which provides the building with supplemental power generation.

Solatubes are mechanisms somewhat similar to a skylight, but much more advanced. They increase natural lighting in the station to reduce the cost and energy use associated with artificial lights.

“One of the main features of the building is an exterior screen to control sunlight into the main lobby area, and it acts as an entry feature like a front porch to designate the front door,” said Wood.

“Every building has an orientation of some kind to the sun. In this instance we had a southern exposure. An outstanding design feature of any building is the orientation to the sun and knowing heat gain.

It’s just good design.” In the end, McKinney residents near Fire Station #8 can rely on even faster response times when they need it most – in an emergency.



See original article with photo in McKinney Living Magazine

by CASEY NORTON

WFAA

Posted on June 14, 2010 at 5:54 PM

FORT WORTH — Fort Worth is at the center of a national debate pitting conservation versus preservation.

While one developer wants to put a wind turbine on top of an historic building, many residents in the neighborhood say it crosses the line between green energy and curb appeal.

A single wind turbine spins waits to provide renewable energy in Fort Worth’s revitalized south side. Developer Peter Lyden had visions of using five to six turbines to save 30 to 40 percent on his energy costs.

“I’ve got several historical buildings in and around the area, including the Victory Arts Center, the bank across the street and several other properties,” he said. “I would very much like to implement this across the board once we prove it to be successful.”

But, those turbines may never branch out.

The Fairmount Neighborhood Association isn’t too keen on the windmills being perched on top of the historic structures, like the Mehl Building.

“We want to see the building; we want to see the historical structure, not mechanical equipment that detracts from the character,” said former association president Patti Randle.

Fairmount neighbors argue that the turbines aren’t much more than a science experiment that you can’t help but notice from the street. Also, no one knows how much energy the turbines really provide.

“If you put the wind turbine up there and it detracts from the building, what have you really gained?” asked Fran McCarthy, who is also with the neighborhood group.

But Lyden said cutting edge technology has been a part of Fairmount’s history. It led the way at the turn of the century with electric lights. He said he believes wind turbines are part of a future that Fort Worth should embrace.

“And I’ve been helping, working with them to come up with some standards that hopefully the industry can work with and the neighborhoods will be happy with,” he said.

Those with the Fairmount Neighborhood Association said it has nothing against being green; they just want the green to highlight the history — not overpower it.

Ray Boothe, an architect who is behind the wind turbine installation project, is in contact with the National Trust for Historic Preservation. He and other developers want the Trust to come up with new standards that would allow green energy in older buildings in cities across the nation.

E-mail: cnorton@wfaa.com

‘Green’ home adds wind turbines

BY JIM WAYMER • FLORIDA TODAY • June 26, 2010

INDIALANTIC — A husband, a wife and his mother hope the twists and turns atop this “green” roof will keep them all cool this summer.

When the wind dies, solar panels and two wind- and sun-charged 12-volt batteries do the job. It’s a unique hybrid concept, energy experts say, and could yield big savings on one of Florida’s biggest energy drains.

On Friday, workers used a crane to lift two wind turbines onto Florida’s Showcase Green Envirohome, a “near-zero” energy-use home being built at 216 Coral Way. They also propped four low-energy-use air conditioners on the house’s sides.

Nonnie Crystal and Mark Baker hope by late this summer to move themselves and Baker’s mother into what they say will be among the most energy efficient homes in Florida, America, maybe the world.

It’s been an expensive proposition they’ve accomplished with a lot of brokering with companies that want to showcase their environmentally friendly products. But, they say, it’s well worth any cost.

“You could honestly say the most expensive way to build a home is the way we did it,” Crystal said, stopping short of giving a figure. “It’s a science experiment.”

Crystal researched the technology, most of which they get free, in exchange for allowing walkthroughs to showcase the products. Baker’s the builder. Because of the novelty, they design and engineer some of it as they go.

They plan to gather the data to prove the energy savings, so others can do the same. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection also is monitoring several aspects of the project.

The wind turbines, the V-100 and V-200 Energy Ball, are made by Home Energy Americas, a Texas-based company. They start collecting wind energy at winds of only about 4 mph, compared to most turbines that need about twice that amount.

The V-200, alone, which they got for free, costs $14,000 to $18,000 installed and is rated at 2.25 kilowatts, so it can produce that much power per hour in 35 mph sustained winds.

They run quieter than most wind turbines, so neighbors won’t hear them, said Michael Lanham, chief operating officer for Home Energy Americas.

“The vibration is nearly zero,” he said.

Lanham also said they’re safe for birds, which can see them better than the typical wind turbines that resemble airplane propellers.

“The faster it spins, the solider it looks,” he said.

Frances started it

Crystal and Baker’s vision began with a microburst from Hurricane Frances, which in 2004 tore the roof off his mother’s Indialantic home. Hurricane Jeanne finished it off.

They’re building the Florida’s Showcase Envirohome on the footprint of the original 1967 house that Betty Baker Farley, 77, bought in 1970 for about $27,750.

The storm provided fertile ground for mold — which made the home uninhabitable — and an opportunity for Baker and Crystal.

They drummed up 40 sponsors and used his mother’s insurance claim.

Last year, they installed a septic tank and drain field that a University of Central Florida researcher says can cleanse 90 percent of the nitrogen and almost all the phosphorus from wastewater, using recycled tire crumbs, sawdust and sand.

They plan a 60-square foot “green wall” inside the home to be irrigated with gray water, which has been used in the home.

The wall generates oxygen and removes volatile organic compounds from indoor air.

An experiment

The home has become an ongoing experiment for University of Central Florida research into green building and stormwater management.

“They’re doing a lot of good things there, it looks like,” said Frank Leslie, adjunct professor in Florida Tech’s department of marine and environmental systems.

But he reserves a bit of skepticism about the wind turbines, which he says studies have found don’t produce much energy because they’re too low to the ground.

Baker and Crystal were limited by the county’s 35-foot height limit.

But they say no tall buildings or tall trees obstruct wind there, and they measured winds that were consistently between 18 and 33 mph last year.

“We are the tallest house in the neighborhood and we are on the coastline,” Crystal said.

Danny Parker, a researcher at the Florida Solar Energy Center in Cocoa, called it “novel.”

“So many projects like this are going on now,” he said. “There’s not really a lot of them in Florida, but there’s a heck of a lot of them out in California.”

The couple also plans to spare the Indian River Lagoon by allowing close to zero rainwater to run off their lot. They also hope to be water-neutral as well as carbon-neutral, using a soil-covered cement board section of roof planted with daisies, honeysuckle and mustard plants.

The “green, living” roof drains rain into a whole-house graywater system that reuses shower and clothes washer water to sprinkle the lawn and flush toilets.

The stormwater system, designed by University of Central Florida’s Stormwater Management Academy, will capture close to 90 percent of the rain.

“Our passion is not, ‘Hey, build one like us.’ Our passion is education,” she added. “I want people to get in and see the technologies as soon as we can.”

After construction is complete, Baker and Crystal plan to offer tours to school groups. Baker and Crystal want to prove green building concepts work. Crystal said the BP spill could help to accelerate “green” building.

“I think there’s a cry, with the impetus of the oil disaster,” she said. “I don’t think we need to perform unnecessary surgery on Mother Earth.”

Contact Waymer at 242-3663 or jwaymer@floridatoday.com.

For Details, Contact:
Nonnie Chrystal, VP Marketing
Florida’s Showcase Green Envirohome™ (FSGE™)

Direct Phone: 321-615-7847      Website: www.FSGE.net

Link to page with links to original PDF of press release