02/26/2009 12:11 PM

Proveneric

Thanks for the links to the web site photos. I especially liked the Chipotle restaurant in Illinois. I plan to visit it the next time I'm in that area. Since I've done some business with Chipotle in the past, I'll also ask when they plan to do this type of unit in my area.

02/12/2009 08:44 AM

YES. Proven Energy wind turbines sucessfully operate on and next to buildings and for outdoor advirtising. Building integrated wind turbines are certainly feasible if handled correctly. You need to have a steel and concrete structure that can handle the extreme loads. You also need to consider the turbulance of the wind in urban environments and need to site and install properly with skilled professionals.

Please take a look at the following two links for prime examples:

Chipotle Restaurant in IL: http://www.jetsongreen.com/2008/10/chipotle-green.html

Residential Housing project in London: http://www.elephantandcastle.org.uk/windturbinetrial/

Check out www.ProvenEnergy.com for more info.

12/10/2008 11:44 AM

Grizz

Thanks for your input. I hadn't thought about the issue of the wind loads against the turbines, etc. Most likely the tenants wouldn't be too happy if the entire building hummed all day. Thus, it sounds like one would have to come up with a way to "isolate" the turbine (and its associated wind load) from the building. Until that issue has been resolved it sounds like any use of wind turbines would have to be for buildings that can utilize a free-standing system....perhaps in the parking lot around a single story retail shopping center. It will be interesting to see how well wind turbines are received by various cities as they may not exactly fall into the existing zoning regulations.

I seem to recall that the Federal Government passed a law that essentially prohibited cities from stopping their residents from placing satellite antenas on their homes.....something about federal communications commission, etc. This got us around some rather restrictive city and homes association rules. Perhaps something similiar can be done to clear the path for the installation of wind turbines in urban areas....however, I suspect that they will probably end up being some size limitations.

I'm going to check into any applicable restrictions on the use of solar panels, etc. My guess is that as long as they can't be seen from the street there shouldn't be a problem with the local municipality. However, residential roofs may be a problem in some communites....such as the one I live in...where the homes association dictates what type of materials you can use to replace your roof.

12/09/2008 09:19 PM

In the past few months I have been contacted by a few real estate developers - one was from NYC - he wanted to install a few wind turbines in some tall buildings. I told him there was no way he could do this on an existing building due to the huge wind loads against the turbine tower - the roof & supporting steel would flex and then probably hmmmm - not good. This was for a vertical turbine. There are horizontal turbines available that require less mph of wind speed and hardly any tower height at all. The cost of these proportional to energy output is off base compared to the vertical turbines. Some horz. turbines on the market - let's say - the jury is still out in regards to effectiveness.

Now for solar PV or thermal panels - a commercial application is great & is only limited to the square footage of feel roof space available.

 

Grizz

11/28/2008 04:54 PM

I just noticed in a recent edition of The Kiplinger Report that the ceiling has been removed from the tax credit for the purchase of solar panels. Previously the ceiling was $2000, now there is no ceiling and a 30% tax credit through December 2016. This should help make it affordable to convert to solar panels.

10/30/2008 11:15 AM

In looking at a US Postal Service publication recently, I learned that the Postal Service is more involved in energy conservation issues (involving commercial buildings) then I ever imagined. For example, consider the following:

The USPS has the largest solar photovotaic systems in the nation, which convert sunlight directly into electricity. Reportedly, the emissions eliminated by using solar power are equal to planting more than 850,000 trees.

The USPS is exploring or installing various energy saving systems in facilities around the country, including photovoltaic cells, solar panels, goe-thermal panels and even wind turbines.

They have used over 1 Million gallons of alternative fuel in their alternative fuel-capable vehicles and have increased E85 fuel consumption by 40%.

In Arizona and Florida they are delivering mail by bicycle, 2-ton electric vehicles have been delivering mail in New York City since 2004, and three-wheel electric scooters are being tested as possible replacements fo traditional gasoline delivery vehicles in Florida, Texas, California and Arizona.

In addition to motivations stemming from a desire to help the environment, I"m guessing that the USPS is also being motivated by a desire to cut expenses since they expect to end the current fiscal year with a mail volume decline of 9 Billion pieces!