From The Workbench - Alternative + Renewable Energy Blog Valuable information for do-it-yourselfers interested in the latest in alternative + renewable energy

If you know us at all here at From The Workbench and Northern Tool, you’ll know how big of fans we are of all things alternative energy.  Whether it’s solar power, wind power, water power, biodiesel, heck, even human power (bicycles et. al), they all make us happy.  So reading today’s news about a new compact wind turbine that could effectively triple wind power output.  TRIPLE.

According to some new reports from those in the know, “Normally wind turbines lose up to 39.7 percent of potential energy because wind not only flows through the blades, but is also directed away from the turbine. The new FloDesign Wind Turbine takes cues from jet engine designs in order to minimize this wasted energy.”  Apparently, by enclosing the blades with smaller, stationary blades, all of the wind is thereby directed to the rotor.  While current turbines use giant blades to make up for the lost energy, the new FloDesign compact turbines can actually produce the same amount of energy as a turbine double its size.  Smaller turbines mean more turbines can fit in a single area, more turbines mean more energy.  This is good.

As the article mentioned as well, this new development might also silence a lot of wind power critics who think that wind farms are eyesores on the landscape.  The turbines can now be much smaller and take up far less space.  I for one, Love the sound of this.  More alternative and renewable energy, less complaining!

Image via Wikipedia

I don’t know about you, but one of the worst days of EVERY month for me, is the day the power bill shows up.  It’s the same song and dance each month, I see the envelope in the box, I sigh, dread opening it and reluctantly make my way inside.  It’s that first glance each time that kills me, seeing the HUGE amount of money I owe just for powering my life.  Each month I wonder:  What can I do about this…how can I cut back?!

The good news is, there IS something I can do, and there is something we can ALL do.  How excited would you be if I told you that its possible to cut your home energy bills by 80% using wind and solar power.  80%.  How about instead of paying $100/month, you could pay $20.  Wow.  The article I just found has some very simple ideas that for not very much money, you can start outfitting your home with solar and wind power.  How about a special solar power system for under $200?  How about a wind turbine system that shouldn’t cost you more than about $100?

While I can not guarantee these ideas or plans will work half as well as a professionally installed system, I suppose it’s worth a try to do-it-yourself at home first, and if it doesn’t work, reevaluate and go from there.  The upfront costs of solar and wind power can sometimes scare people off entirely, but the long term benefits are always going to be there.  Cutting anywhere from 80-100% of your energy bill, or heck, there are even some people where the power company has to pay THEM back because of the excesses they are creating.  Believe it, and get on board.

You know what makes my Monday’s go from absolute rubbish to absolute gems? Reading about how legislation all over this fine country of ours is pushing, and pushing Hard for pro-alternative energy actions. Seriously, very few things make me smile bigger on a mundane Monday than saving the planet.

Word on my block is that this is exactly what is going down in New Jersey. According to reports, where farmers used to toil and sweat to make ends meet by plowing fields, raising livestock and just keeping the farm going, they might be soon tending to solar panels and wind mills. Believe it.

The article I just read had some promising things to say:

“New Jersey lawmakers are contemplating a bill that defines solar and wind energy generation as agricultural activity. The measure aims to promote alternative energy sources, but has been criticized as a possible danger to farmland preservation efforts. The bill would allow the owners of preserved farmland to construct, operate and install solar or wind energy facilities or equipment on their farms. The generated power could be used to operate the farm or be sold to a utility company.”

I know one thing for sure, if they need the materials to get this ball rolling, Northern Tool can certainly step in and load them up!