Up on the roof, a turbine, some wind
Posted on July 5th, 2011
WAYNE, Mich., July 5 (UPI) — A wind-powered roof turbine in Michigan is drawing curiosity and not complaints from neighbors, its owner said.
“I thought maybe in some small way I’m one of the pioneers for a greener America,” said Ted Klein, who installed the 241-pound WindTronics turbine on his roof about six weeks ago, The Detroit News reported Tuesday.
Brian Levine, WindTronics vice president of business development, said, “We’ve sold thousands of units across the planet,” but neighbors are still reacting as if it was a curiosity, the newspaper said.
“Most everyone is curious,” said Judith Klein, Ted Klein’s wife.
The American Wind Energy Association said less than 2 percent of the country’s small turbine market involved urban dwellings.
It costs $8,200 to install and sits on a pole a few feet above the roof ridge line. It looks similar to a large bicycle wheel, the newspaper said.
A federal tax credit is available for 30 percent of the cost, and states have designed their own incentive programs.
The WindTronics turbine is quiet as it has no gears, and it is expected to generate 1,500 kilowatt-hours per year, about an eighth of an average home’s annual use.
All that’s needed is the price of the equipment, a roof and an average wind of 12 miles per hour.
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Tags: Roof Turbine, Wind
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