A Wind-Power Vision for the Bronx’s Grand Concourse

Is it possible that the designers of NYC‘s city seal peered into the future to see how important wind energy would be to us in the year 2009? Most likely not, but their decision to include a

Links Roundup of the Week: Wind Energy

We’ve been reading here and there that research is beginning to show that wind speeds are slowing down due to climate change — making wind-powered energy less promising. Some would simply call

High Altitude Wind Turbines Could Completely Power NYC

How much wind power is available way up high in the sky? Turns out a lot, according to new research from the Carnegie Institution for Science and California State University. Researchers there recently

Wind Turbine Towers Win Metropolis Next Generation Prize!

Today Metropolis Magazine officially announced the winner of their 2009 Next Generation prize! Titled Wind-it, the brilliant project aims to give our existing energy grid a much needed boost by installing

Optiwind Accelerating Wind Turbine Taps New Energy Fields

Traditional three-blade turbines are great if you have lots of space to play with, but the Optiwind Compact Wind Accelerating Turbine is ideal for high-density, low-wind areas. The turbine’s series

Energy 101: What Is a Smart Grid?

In last week’s Energy 101 column, we took a look at the basics of where our energy comes from now. This week, we’re examining the future of energy—specifically, the smart grid. To recap, a

PREFAB FRIDAY: Casa 100K by MarioCucinella Architects

This clustered, multi-unit building is both literally and metaphorically green. Constructed with prefabricated modules that come in various hues of green, the building and each housing unit include a

Ethiopia Announces Largest Wind Farm in Africa

When faced with the need to develop additional sources of energy, the Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation recently decided that its best option was not to build conventional power plants. Instead, the

Groundbreaking Energy Ball Wind Turbine for Home Power

Swedish company Home Energy recently revealed an innovative wind turbine that spins in a spherical formation. Eschewing traditional rotors for a sleek orb structure, this beautiful rethinking of

Kite Power Could Generate Energy for 100,000 Homes

If we told you that a free-flying kite could provide enough energy to power your house, you might consider us crazy. How about all the homes on your block, or even an entire city? Scientists at Delft

Star Wars-Inspired Marine Research Facility

Star Wars inspiration and biomimicry combine for the design of the Facility at Sea, a sustainable marine research platform and feat of offshore building engineering. The concept came together in an

HELIX WIND TURBINE: Small Wind Gets Smart

Harnessing wind power for use in residential applications has been a challenge, but a new breed of vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) from Helix Wind offers a promising design that may change the way we do

‘WING’ PERSONAL PORTABLE WINDMILL

Wind power is one of the most promising sources of renewable energy, yet most often its presence is felt only on the industrial scale, in large wind farms connected to the power grid. How great would it

FLYING WIND TURBINES

We’ve seen wind turbines fit for backyards, balconies, even oceans- and now pioneering wind-power engineers are looking to take wind turbines to new heights—15,000-30,000 feet in the air! Harvesting

FLOATING WIND TURBINES IN THE NORTH SEA

While our oceans house not only diverse ecologies and possibly the lost city of Atlantis, they now have something else to brag about: serving as prime real estate for some very renewable energy. Norwegian

STUDENT DESIGN TURNS HIGHWAYS INTO WIND FARMS

The great thing about collaborative design sites like Archinect is that they allow brilliant student ideas to escape the confines of studio and get the attention they deserve. Case in point is Arizona

WORLD’S SMALLEST WIND TURBINE

This little wind-powered toy brings clean, green energy to the palm of your hand, and is a great little gadget for getting youngsters interested in the beauty of renewable energy. No batteries or charging

SKYSTREAM RESIDENTIAL WINDMILL

If you’re anything like me and find windmills both genius and oddly calming, the residential Skystream 3.7 windmill by Southwest Windpower may be the perfect addition to your backyard landscape.