Comments on: Make your own wind http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/6194 Feel Smart Again Sun, 22 Nov 2009 07:59:48 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Orange http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/6194/comment-page-1#comment-86098 Orange Mon, 28 Jul 2008 22:55:44 +0000 http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/6194#comment-86098 Europe's been doing it forever... works for them. Maybe we should take some cues from other countries. Europe’s been doing it forever… works for them. Maybe we should take some cues from other countries.

]]> By: Sid Morrison http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/6194/comment-page-1#comment-14274 Sid Morrison Wed, 06 Jun 2007 12:34:15 +0000 http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/6194#comment-14274 It all sounds pretty cool & wind power works a whole lot better than solar where I live, but $15K is a *whole* lot of electricity purchased at 10 cents a kW*hr or so. The internal rate of return / net present value (choose your metric) of this seems pretty dubious. Likewise, what are the maintenance costs? When I get 90 mph winds (which happens a couple times a year... ask my trees), how protected is the gizmo from damage? What is the service life? I'm not against wind power per se, but this is a pretty pricey home system. There are some much cheaper (albeit less iPod stylish) ones out there. It all sounds pretty cool & wind power works a whole lot better than solar where I live, but $15K is a *whole* lot of electricity purchased at 10 cents a kW*hr or so. The internal rate of return / net present value (choose your metric) of this seems pretty dubious. Likewise, what are the maintenance costs? When I get 90 mph winds (which happens a couple times a year… ask my trees), how protected is the gizmo from damage? What is the service life?

I’m not against wind power per se, but this is a pretty pricey home system. There are some much cheaper (albeit less iPod stylish) ones out there.

]]> By: Jason! http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/6194/comment-page-1#comment-14258 Jason! Tue, 05 Jun 2007 22:13:08 +0000 http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/6194#comment-14258 Make Magazine Volume 5 actually had an article on building a personal wind powered generator out of PVC and other assorted parts. I've been meaning to try it... Make Magazine Volume 5 actually had an article on building a personal wind powered generator out of PVC and other assorted parts. I’ve been meaning to try it…

]]> By: Kate http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/6194/comment-page-1#comment-14255 Kate Tue, 05 Jun 2007 19:13:06 +0000 http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/6194#comment-14255 Actually former Senator Daschle (he was booted by Thune). I think he's a lobbyist now in DC. Actually former Senator Daschle (he was booted by Thune). I think he’s a lobbyist now in DC.

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