white ghosts, the wind, and engineering dreams

Wednesday, 25. June 2008, 15:16:48

i realize this blog post doesn't go along the lines i intended with my blog space . . . .

but i feel the need to post this today, because it interests me and i want feedback from other people.

i will do more research, but this is just too important, imo, for me to wait until later to share!

while searching and reading the news of this day, i've found this piece on bbc news

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7472722.stm

it goes with my interests in the wind turbines' usefulness to our society by providing energy through natural means and resources readily available.

if you view my photos and find the white ghosts photos you might be amused at my facination -- or not.

i have an issue with anyone who makes enough money to house themselves in an apartment for an extravigant amount of money in a city that uses business enterprise to take advantage of others extracting their wealth from others. -- that issue is an entirely different blog post, nevermind.

what interests me here is what i've seen proposed in the past, particularly -- the use of wind turbine technology to power an entire building and provide extra supply to surrounding equipment . . . .

what are your feelings and comments on this subject? does it interest you as much as it does me? would you live in a building such as this if you had to live in New York, USA?

thanks. deborah.

---------------found my old write and added it today, 26 june unedited------------------

April 2008 Powered

These giant white ghosts stand silent,
motionless in excellence waiting to be heard.

A touch, a breath, or a whisper of air
whips blades like a thunderbolt . . .

powered by the wind.

deborah.

re-inventing oneself - me, myself, and Inature's patience

Comments

The article: Interesting and a little weird at the same time. It is really practical? Big question - is it safe?

I am sure the average person could never afford to live in it. Seems like a gimmick to me.

By Dudley, # 25. June 2008, 19:00:50

I am very interested in this subject. Not so much in the twisting skyscrapers - much more in the idea of wind turbines providing individual buildings with energy, and more than that.

Actually I am so interested in the general idea about wind turbines that I have bought a part of a wind-turbine farm, as it's called here. 12 very large turbines standing in a windy spot not far from the ocean. We, as shareholders, produce enough energy to provide a town of 20.000 people with electricity.

Apart from that I am very much in favour of loosening our legislation in order to give everyone the possibility to have a small wind-turbine on top of his or her individual house. Or the residents in a large building can cooperate in erecting a larger turbine on top of their larger building. The turbines will be connected to the resident's meters, so if the turbines produce a surplus of energy, the meters will simply run backwards. You will in effect be able to sell electricity to the provider.

I feel confident that this will be realised here soon.

As far as I know, 30% of all electricity in Denmark derives from sustainable CO2 neutral sources. And this is just the beginning.

I will be among the first people to have their own mini-turbine.

By ricewood, # 25. June 2008, 19:38:30

I've read South Africa is busy setting up some windfarms somewhere.. Its always interesting to know that there's so much alternative electricity sources..
We've got a solar panel installed around last year and it works perfect with the waterheater.. Cut our electricity bills considerably for something I salvaged from a junkyard..

By Cois, # 25. June 2008, 20:24:28

Allan (above comment) posted this video of a wind turbine a while back. Thought you might like to watch it!

You don't like people who live in apartments in cities, then?

By edwardpiercy, # 25. June 2008, 23:27:35

a couple of months ago i ran across an article about an office buiding/skyscraper with similar concept . . . three wind turbine blades between the two tower-type structures that powered the place. seems like it was somewhere in europe and i don't remember if it was in the planning stages or already a reality.

dudley, you are right when you say it seems like a gimmick. but i think the gimmick is in the rotating apartments. i don't understand how a rotating apartment building could possibly be a safe place to live. what facinated me was the plans to make it self-sufficient using wind turbine technology.

edward, i have nothing against apartment dwellers. i take sides though when people with wealth splurge money on things like real estate. it makes the cost of other people's real estate that much higher in tax amounts. too many of us are just getting by. i'd like to watch videos, but my slow dial up machine doesn't load them very well. i'll blame it on the OS ha, ha, ha.

allan, that's a good idea to invest in a wind turbine farm. one problem i see on wall street is that GE stock is not doing very well right now. the art of generating electricity using the wind is unique and i'm not sure a person could install a turbine on a rooftop and the turbiine work. in a brief conversation i had with one engineer, he stated there is a reason the turbines in this area are on top of the plateaus and not beside the lakes. something about updrafts move the blades . . .

cois, solar panel on you house that's great! allan (ricewood) has a good blog post on his opera space about nuclear power that is also very interesting. you'll find it here:

http://my.opera.com/ricewood/blog/nuclear-power-no-thanks

thanks for your comments everyone! we've got another windy day ahead of us this day. forecasters predict steady 15 mph winds with gusts up to 35 mph!

By 1bluebox, # 26. June 2008, 08:50:09

edward, i went back and watched the video on allan's blog. i think i've figured out how to do this now. thanks. that was amazing! i often wondered what would happen if a tornado struck one of the wind turbines around here. that's kind of scary to watch. thanks again!

By 1bluebox, # 26. June 2008, 09:02:39

i found the article i was writing about with the skyscrapers and the wind turbines it is here:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24029616/

By 1bluebox, # 26. June 2008, 14:58:31

and for anyone who hasn't viewed bbc news today, here is another news story:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7474592.stm

there is one more website i'd like to share with you, it is the american wind energy association

http://awea.org/newsroom/

By 1bluebox, # 26. June 2008, 19:24:11

wind turbines in certain places are working in california to defray the dependence on oil and coal. but everything breaks down in time and the cost might be the reason why wind turbines are not more in use.

the sun is still the best alternative.... because the sun loses nothing it's not losing already.

better than wind would be to harness the tide.
canisters filled with air would go up and down. attached to gears and camshafts, a lot of energy could be produced with no harm to anyone. maintenance is still a problem.

By I_ArtMan, # 13. July 2008, 04:38:12

thanks for the comment scott! yes, the tides and the wave-motion of the ocean and other waterways can be harnessed and is being tested. the prototype i saw looks like a giant red catepillar!

maintainence will be there for all of us always, even if we go back in time to live as our ancestors did by our own immediate means, i.e., wood stoves and hard labor; even horse-drawn carts and need maintenance. that is why i think those with skilled-labor crafts are much more important than any politician or lawyer!

cois uses solar energy! he has many talents! (south africa)

allan has invested in wind turbines! he has other talents, i.e., the skill of a businessman (person) -- (denmark).

me, i just live amongst the giant white ghosts awaiting the day when they make more of an impact on my local environment. they've already made a good impact in our local communities and they are cool, imo.

By 1bluebox, # 13. July 2008, 22:52:29

and today on the news they demonstrated a way to get energy from the movement of cars over the highway... good idea. the wheels push down on these 'cells' and generate electricity.

By I_ArtMan, # 14. July 2008, 03:38:01

where did you find that info? i read a little on msnbc news yesterday, but didn't see anything about that story. do you remember the link?

By 1bluebox, # 14. July 2008, 09:44:26

it was reported on nbc yesterday. google it. sometimes i watch cbs, but i think this was nbc. i could be wrong. maybe it was 60 minutes. that's cbs. they showed pictures of the device.

it's a good idea. but once again, what will it cost to install highways with gravity plates? and the old demon wear and tear.
i am happy though that they are thinking outside the box.

By I_ArtMan, # 15. July 2008, 02:10:23

There is an article on the net today about the State of Texas signing a billion dollar contract for wind generated turbines to provide more energy to the outerlying areas.

My son-in-law works as an electrician for a company in North Dakota that makes the wind tunnels (that's what they call the base). When I last visited, he took me on a tour of the company as they were working on them. They are massive.

By PainterWoman, # 19. July 2008, 01:33:38

i haven't read the entire bill, but the state of texas has ordered utility companies to begin converting the plants to provide wind generated power to the citizens of texas. there are special equipment needs and wiring that has to be in place for these benefits to the consumer. i can foresee some concerns and probably increases to the consumer over the next decade (maybe sooner), but i also think the benefits to our society as a whole will far outweigh the consumer concerns. i think this is one thing our state government might have done correctly in the past year. i'll try and find the time to research the specifics, but i think the bill allows for some of our tax monies to fund this equipment/wiring change-over. thanks painterwoman!!!!!! deb.

By 1bluebox, # 19. July 2008, 09:08:57

I don't know if you saw the article. It took me a while to find it as it was on my Cox news page early this morning, then was gone by tonight. Here is a link to the article:

http://www.kvue.com/business/stories/071708kvuepucwindpower-km.64e06c8f.html

By PainterWoman, # 19. July 2008, 09:32:36

I don't know if Arizona is doing anything at all with solar power as I haven't read up on it. I know individual people are but it is expensive. With the amount of sun we have year round, it would be a good idea. It's too bad everything is so expensive to make changes for the better.

By PainterWoman, # 19. July 2008, 09:39:56

Good grief. It's 3 am here. I better go to bed but not before I give you a link I just found when researching solar energy in Arizona:

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/viewpoints/articles/2008/06/15/20080615vip-ingley0615.html

I think I'll do more tomorrow. This is interesting.

By PainterWoman, # 19. July 2008, 10:27:35

the texas puc is broad and if they think 2012 is an efficient deadline, they are sadly incorrect, imo.

too bad they will drag this out, but at least steps are in place. there will be a new source of local employment for texans and others to draw upon with this whole passage! it is a good thing, but i wish they would set more aggressive goals in a more timely manner -- like at least by 2010!

thanks for the post painterwoman. now i'm off the view the other post you've made about solar energy! deborah.

By 1bluebox, # 20. July 2008, 16:21:18

painterwoman, i thank you for your comments and posts! the solar power information is very interesting. arizona is definately thinking of the future, imo. i look forward to these educational professionals' and educated administrators' solutions to the issues we have with the need to exsist with power to our homes and businesses!

i am willing to pay the higher rates, if it means we will not be dependent on any other resource that requires descruction to our mother earth. i really should get my bicyle out and ride it to work more often -- wonder if i have the energy in my body and the will-power in this lazy lifestyle i lead to accomplish this?

thanks again painterwoman!

By 1bluebox, # 20. July 2008, 16:33:19

i say, stop feeding the monster. what is materialism? it is

that we truly believe that 'things' will make us happy. it's a

global disease of the head brain.

we could, in an ideal world have a benevolent government of

good stewards of the 'weal', for the good of the people.

technology can be re-directed to providing medicine and all

the creature comforts which are really necessary for

everyone, (shelter, food and clothing) no matter how many

people begin to 'crowd' the earth. hey, i look out the window

when i am flying... there's still plenty of room. love you.

By I_ArtMan, # 22. July 2008, 04:52:20

good one scott! i was visiting someone's opera blog posts earlier (it was jackie's, i believe), and there was discussion about the future and population control. i like your idea of creature comforts for everyone!

i have thought about the monster we call our governments (local and federal) and why we should stop participating in the process. my conclusion was pretty much what other choice do we have without participating in the beauracracy (spelling, bad)? none. without governments and judicial systems in place could we really live together in a more organized society? i just don't think it would be possible to live without a structured process.

i still have a dream to live in a world of global peace and goodwill towards all life forms. peace to you scott.

By 1bluebox, # 22. July 2008, 06:51:35

the only prerequisite is that everyone wake up to the deceit.

every hundred years or so.... the people see through the lies they are being told. we have a good beginning with the constitution.
it's just not being amended properly as the foudning fathers intended.

i am sure that they didn't expect us to be in the grips of a new what shall we call it, a 'power-oligarchy'. mr. jefferson forsaw the problem one way... that's why he wanted every voter to be educated. washington knew the danger of interfering in foreign affairs.

eisenhower even warned about the war machine running the future. knowing doesn't change events, i guess.

peace is always a potential. it depends only on our leaders. if they are moved by considering what people think of them, they will be aimless. if they really understand something about why we are here, they will move strenuously to achieve a goal of peace.

By I_ArtMan, # 22. July 2008, 07:39:03

i think we have to move towards peaceful existance together -- politicians are some of the most arrogant individuals i've ever met. they say they think about everyone else, but they do not demonstrate it in their policies, imo. at least eighty percent of them -- the other twenty percent are sitting on the fence watching the game for free.

By 1bluebox, # 22. July 2008, 07:56:00

Oh, 1bluebox!
You have no real concept of how right you are about politicians being arrogant.
I remember Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska sued the State of Alaska, (and won a buncha bucks), because his wife wrecked her car on a State Highway. At that exact time, he was in politics involved in setting up things in the brand new state.
The huge monetary settlement gave Ol' Teddy a huge leg up on his opponents.
And he has learned ever better ways to line his pockets for the last thirty years as a member of "Porkin' Politics Headquarters"....namely the US Senate.
And he is simply one of 100, who are as bad.
Encee

By salinas50, # 6. August 2008, 23:41:22