"City wind turbines won't run a hairdryer"

Britannist · 06-03-2007, 01:52 AM

"Wind turbines in cities won’t run a hairdryer":

:arrow:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/liv...n_page_id=1965

mkpdavies · 06-03-2007, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Professor Jim Watson, of the University of Sussex and the Tyndall Climate Change and Energy Programme, said cutting energy consumption rather than using wind turbines or solar panels was the best way to help the environment.

I think that's a fair enough comment. My only concern is the net mbenefit to the individual could be negative. If the thing costs more to buy and maintain, than it saves you, then I suggest you are probably better off spending the money in other ways.

Besoeker · 06-03-2007, 07:15 AM

It's even worse than the article says.
It's nowhere near enough to run a hairdryer.
At 12 mph wind speed it would produce less than a tenth of the power for a hairdryer.

And the economic case is very shaky too.
If you had to borrow the £2k, the energy savings wouldn't even cover the cost of financing the venture.

Britannist · 06-03-2007, 03:06 PM

There's also the amount of energy used to make the wretched device in the first place.

Mini-wind turbines on the top of chimneys look awful. And the blades kill birds.

Someone wrote in one newspaper that the few people who've got them only do so 'for effect' and because it gives them something to talk to with their friends at the barbecue. Apparently some of those who have chimney wind turbines find them easier to brag about at dinner parties than to say they've had double glazing and roof insulation put in (double glazing and roof insulation being two things which really would cut heating bills).

Apparently (according to the article I read) it is not so 'exciting' to show one's politically correct posh friends roof insulation than it is to try and impressive them with a wind turbine on the roof.

I'm not against solar panels 8) or wave power (in principal).

C_steam · 06-03-2007, 03:47 PM

Quote:

I'm not against solar panels or wave power (in principal).

Installing a system for the latter on your roof would be a bit of a buggar though.........

tito · 06-03-2007, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C_steam

Quote:

I'm not against solar panels or wave power (in principal).

Installing a system for the latter on your roof would be a bit of a buggar though.........

Not in Wales it wouldn't!

Besoeker · 06-03-2007, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Britannist

I'm not against solar panels 8) or wave power (in principal).

Nor am I.
What I am against ideologicaly is the extent to which renewables are subsidised.

eublues · 07-03-2007, 08:47 AM

As soon as these devices go from being novel and subsidised to full-cost but mass produced, they will have a chance of being genuinely useful.

Feldoon · 07-03-2007, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eublues

As soon as these devices go from being novel and subsidised to full-cost but mass produced, they will have a chance of being genuinely useful.

See, you could waste money and time and try and research more energy and cost efficient turbines or you can invest it in fusion research.

Me? I'd prefer the latter.

g hall · 07-03-2007, 12:12 PM

It's not as if they'll grind corn or raise water either - still they are a "cool" accessory for green fascists

06-03-2007, 01:52 AM	#1 (permalink)
Britannist Uber Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: London Posts: 22,896	"City wind turbines won't run a hairdryer" "Wind turbines in cities won’t run a hairdryer": :arrow: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/liv...n_page_id=1965

06-03-2007, 03:06 PM	#4 (permalink)
Britannist Uber Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: London Posts: 22,896	Wind turbine eyesores There's also the amount of energy used to make the wretched device in the first place. Mini-wind turbines on the top of chimneys look awful. And the blades kill birds. Someone wrote in one newspaper that the few people who've got them only do so 'for effect' and because it gives them something to talk to with their friends at the barbecue. Apparently some of those who have chimney wind turbines find them easier to brag about at dinner parties than to say they've had double glazing and roof insulation put in (double glazing and roof insulation being two things which really would cut heating bills). Apparently (according to the article I read) it is not so 'exciting' to show one's politically correct posh friends roof insulation than it is to try and impressive them with a wind turbine on the roof. I'm not against solar panels 8) or wave power (in principal).

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06-03-2007, 07:15 AM	#3 (permalink)
Besoeker Uber Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 4,921	It's even worse than the article says. It's nowhere near enough to run a hairdryer. At 12 mph wind speed it would produce less than a tenth of the power for a hairdryer. And the economic case is very shaky too. If you had to borrow the £2k, the energy savings wouldn't even cover the cost of financing the venture.

07-03-2007, 08:47 AM	#8 (permalink)
eublues Uber Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 3,005	As soon as these devices go from being novel and subsidised to full-cost but mass produced, they will have a chance of being genuinely useful.

07-03-2007, 12:12 PM	#10 (permalink)
g hall Uber Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: erehwon Posts: 5,225	It's not as if they'll grind corn or raise water either - still they are a "cool" accessory for green fascists