Comments on: Philippe Starck Unveils Two Revolutionair Wind Turbines!

By: compo

compo — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 15:39:09 +0000

\”The windmill can generate 20-60% of the energy needed to power a home, at a price point of around 400 Euros ($633). Not realistically within everyone’s budget, but by combining creativity and elegance with ecology Starck will hopefully encourage more people to take greener steps. And for those who don’t want their conservation pieces to be conversation pieces, a subtler version has been proposed.\”

I guess He couldn\’t hit that price point and make any money off of it, not to mention the face that it took him 3 years after unveiling it to put it on the market. Guess what? it\’s still not for sale yet!

By: kamel belgacem

kamel belgacem — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 15:12:51 +0000

I want to participate in the development of wind power. I am able to provide assistance

By: barackobama69

barackobama69 — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 09:01:05 +0000

Hi Jacob,

power output per $ is extremely relevant. the fuel is free, but you still had a cost of ~4k euros getting the thing, and it wont last forever. overall, power from a small scale turbine like that will cost, at best, 4 times more than grid electricity.

And I don’t waste the heat, it’s very cold where I am so the heat from incandescent bulbs is actually keeping me warm!

By: Jacob.coxey

Jacob.coxey — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 02:58:50 +0000

The point of how many light bulbs can be powered is irrelevant. The point is a person has an option to lower their electric bills and make a choice for environment. It isn’t JUST about the cost benefit analysis which should be based on the buyers community cost for electric power and the access to wind resources.
It’s amazing to me how many people ridicule people who in a free society want to make a spending choice that is good for the environment. I lived in a community that allowed me to pay a few dollars extra to be used to support green power. It’s about CHOICE. If jerks like 69 want to waste heat year round on incandescent light bulbs that is his right to be stupid. If he wants to wast money on beer and cigarettes it is his choice but he shouldn’t make fun of people who want to own their own wind generator.
In the US so many States downwind of the Rockies are investing in Corporate wind power, I just hope more farmers and families get into buying personal turbines to lower over all demand for fossil fuels so the price of fossil fuels comes down so even dumbas like 69 spend less on foreign and corporate owned fuels.

By: SeeScapRun

SeeScapRun — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 03:03:49 +0000

From “Democratic” to “Capitalistic”…. You originally reported that the quadrangular one would be about 400 Euros:

“The windmill can generate 20-60% of the energy needed to power a home, at a price point of around 400 Euros ($633). Not realistically within everyone’s budget, but by combining creativity and elegance with ecology Starck will hopefully encourage more people to take greener steps. And for those who don’t want their conservation pieces to be conversation pieces, a subtler version has been proposed.”

Now the same turbine is going to be 2500! Design may be dead, but capitalism is surely not. A real revolution would be a 1Kw turbine for $500.

By: bluee.ice@gmail.com

bluee.ice@gmail.com — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 20:05:59 +0000

barackobama69: On the topic of incandescent bulbs Brazil and Venezuela started to phase them out in 2005, and other nations are planning scheduled phase-outs: Australia, Ireland and Switzerland in 2009; Argentina, Italy, Russia and the United Kingdom by 2011; Canada in 2012; the European Union by September 2012; and the U.S. between 2012 and 2014. Of the total energy used by an incandescent bulb only 10% of it us used to actually produce light.
So, I’d advise finding a new heat source….maybe start work on a wind powered heater :-p

By: jdog

jdog — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 23:36:33 +0000

While not as sexy, the Bergey XL1 1kw wind turbines have been proven for many years, for about the same price…but includes a 60ft guyed tower in that price.

As to the use of incandenscents vs. CF – there may be a viable argument to using incandescent in an area where heating is required. where cooling is required you’d surely hope to use CF…. but if the option is CF + additional heat or incandescent only….there have been some advocates for the latter. Just something to ponder.

By: SecondKnotch

SecondKnotch — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 18:27:01 +0000

An interesting tweak to the H configured Darrieus VAWT. Probably self starting due to the bent blades and no tower shadow(turbulence caused by the tower). Still, it must need heavier blades than a standard Darrieus, and must still suffer from lift forces reversing with each rotation. Go with a horizontal axis wind turbine every time

By: barackobama69

barackobama69 — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 16:59:50 +0000

yes why would i use the most common light bulb on the planet to make a general example.

Personally I only use incandescent bulbs since I actually need the heat, so there.

By: tirerim

tirerim — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 07:39:02 +0000

barackobama69: Why are you still using incandescent light bulbs? There are over 20 light bulbs in my apartment, and all added together they come to less than 400 W. This does not necessarily mean that the turbines are cost-effective, but basing your calculations of what they can do on outdated and inefficient technology seems like willful ignorance.

By: saglek

saglek — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 22:52:31 +0000

Never mind revolutionary, just make them efficient, productive and able to withstand the wind, ice and dust conditons that so many places have to contend wtih. As for output, don’t try to run things directly, just feed the grid enough to compensate for, or exceed, the power used from the grid. That would end as win-win wind.

By: Yuka Yoneda

Yuka Yoneda — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 14:13:15 +0000

Hi Sheldon,

To clarify, I meant that the Revolutionair comes in two different versions – the quadrangular and the helix, and that the helix version of the Revolutionair has never been seen before.

Thanks for your concern. I have added the words “of the Revolutionair” into the post to make it clear.

By: flippmo

flippmo — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 12:01:27 +0000

Resembles this degree project by a student at my school from last year, a lot. http://www.industrialdesign.lth.se/gallery/ma_projects/2009/sofia_ohlsson/
Ergo, for me it wasn’t really “never before seen”.

By: Sheldon

Sheldon — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 10:59:41 +0000

“never before seen helix-shaped version”
Er, beg to differ (I believe you even reported on them)…
http://www.quietrevolution.co.uk/index.htm

Oh yes, you did, here:
http://www.inhabitat.com/2006/11/15/quiet-revolution-wind-turbine/
(“due to the triple-helix design”)

I’m not taking away Philippe Stark’s design for looking good but he’s not entirely thinking out of the box.

By: barackobama69

barackobama69 — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 05:59:02 +0000

To give you an idea of how wasteful this is then the smaller windmill will only be able to run 6 light bulbs under IDEAL conditions. Average production will be enough to barely run 1 light bulb(if you’re in a bad spot for wind then it’s even less). So 2500 euros(+ batteries to level out the average) for the capability to run a single light bulb.

Even a PV array is more useful than this.