Mariah Power's Windspire vetical-axis turbines, which run silently, are available in custom colors to make them more pleasing to the eye.
(Credit: Mariah Power)Some new sculptures at Quinnipiac University will soon provide students with more than just eye candy.
The university has hired Mariah Power to install 42 of its silent Windspire wind turbines for the gardens of its York Hill campus in Hamden, Conn., which are currently under construction.
Mariah Power produces small wind turbines in the $4,000-$5,000 range for use in residential and commercial properties.
All together the 42 wind turbines for Quinnipiac should provide about 84,000 kilowatt-hours of power per year to the campus, according to a university statement.
"The Windspire provided both a distinctive look for our gardens, and a real source of clean, renewable energy....We are very conscientious about the environment, and by employing smart environmental practices like this, we can engage students in thinking about environmental responsibility, and challenge them to be a part of the solution," John L. Lahey, president of Quinnipiac University, said in a statement.
No word on whether the Windspires, which are available in custom colors, will be done in Quinnipiac blue and gold.
Mariah Power's claim to fame is that its Windspire vertical-axis wind turbines, which don't use traditional propellers to capture wind energy, are able to operate noise-free.
Mariah Power says its Windspire vertical-axis wind turbine is now commercially available, after having passed performance tests.
The Windspire vertical-axis wind turbine
(Credit: Mariah Power)The Windspire costs $4,995, which includes the inverter, pole, and other equipment.
Typically, small-wind turbines such as Southwest Windpower's 1.9-kilowatt Skystream, are best suited for homes with a substantial amount of land.
Mariah Power said the Windspire is aimed at residential customers in urban, suburban, and rural areas. It has already been installed in a handful of U.S. locations.
"(Its) efficiency is on par with most propeller-based wind turbines, but it is priced much lower. It is also much quieter because the rotor glides through the air at only a third the speed of propeller blades, and it can capture wind instantly from any direction," Mariah Power CEO Mike Hess said in a statement.
The Windspire produces about 1.2 kilowatts, or 2,000 kilowatt-hours, per year, according to Mariah's brochure. It works best in 12 mph average winds or higher, and it generally requires half an acre of land, the company said. It's 30 feet high and has a 2-foot radius.
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