On Mon, Oct 18, 2010 at 11:40 PM, Harry Veeder <[email protected]> wrote: > Art and alternative energy. > Harry > > Wind Power Without the Blades > > "Atelier DNA’s “Windstalk” project came in second in the Land Art Generator > competition a contest sponsored by Madsar to identify the best work of art > that > generates renewable energy from a pool of international submissions." > > > pics here > http://news.discovery.com/tech/wind-power-without-the-blades.html
That was quite interesting! I noticed they avoided any discussion of financial viability. While the blade noise is always a problem, someone might have found a way to avoid avian executions: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1320763/Why-painting-wind-turbines-purple-protect-birds-bats.html "Why painting wind turbines PURPLE could protect birds and bats from being killed by their blades By NIALL FIRTH Painting wind turbines white could be attracting vast numbers of insects to them Wind turbines could be painted purple to stop them killing thousands of bats and birds each year, a new study has suggested. It has long been known that wind turbines attract vast numbers of insects which in turn bring larger predators within range of the spinning blades. Now scientists have discovered that the colour of the turbines themselves could make a huge difference to the number of insects that are attracted to it." <more> The article goes on to say that it is not necessarily impact with the airfoil that offs our airborne friends. "A study last year found that more than 90 per cent of birds killed within range of wind turbines actually die because of a sudden change in air pressure before or after each blade which bursts their blood vessels." T
