Our Environment

Only a few years ago talk of residential wind turbines was thought of as the territory of the “Greenie” or the extreme environmentalist. Such is not the case any more.

Residential Wind Turbines

Conversion of the kinetic energy of the wind to usable and clean electric power via a residential wind turbine is now a very simple business. Sophisticated off the shelf wind powered generators cost from around $800 (US) up to many tens of thousands for larger high output varieties.

Residential wind turbines are now more affordable, much more practical and applicable to a wider variety of situations than ever before (and without the need of an electrical engineering degree).

Of course yachties have known how effective wind turbines are be for years. Mainly used to keep boat batteries charged between uses, a relatively small marine wind turbine can supply enough electricity to run a television or small appliance and run several lights in a breeze of about 8-12 knots (about 14 mph or 20 kph). Wind turbines have been common place on cruising boats for about a decade.

These maritime versions of  the residential wind turbine usually work on a twelve or twenty-four volt system, though with the use of smart, cheap technologies now available, they can be used to supplement many more domestic uses too.

While I was sailing in Greece this year I visited an island called Levitha, which lies about three quarters of the way to Turkey from the Greek mainland in the Aegean Sea (see the images).

Only one family live Levitha, this rugged though beautiful island, when speaking to the owner I found out that they are 100% energy self sufficient and are less dependent on fossil fuel (diesel) generators than ever before. A large percentage of this power now being generated by the small wind generators pictured here.

Wind power electricity provided them with not only enough electricity to live a normal (if secluded) life on their island home. It proved more effective (in their case) than solar electricity generation because the wind blows here both day and night.

Residential wind turbines are not science fiction, they work. They are clean, quiet and require very little maintenance. The do not interfere with television reception and most small residential wind turbines now days have an expected useful life of over twenty years.

Most residential wind turbines and small wind powered generators have very few moving parts (two only in newer systems) and once installed operate in a completely automated way.

Wind power electricity does not suit everyone. To get the most from your wind turbine you need to have it quite a long way above the ground, the higher the better. The reason being trees, houses and other ground obstacles disturb the flow of the wind in an effect know as “Ground Friction”.

Ground friction, impedes the flow of the prevailing wind and reduces the effectiveness of your residential wind turbines power output.

Depending on the size of your small wind generator, a height of 60 plus feet is not out of the question. So that said, wind power is not really suitable for suburban use just yet.

You realistically need minimum of about an acre of land to erect a suitably sized tower for your  wind turbine, so the ideal situation is a rural and semi rural situation (at least for now).

This is where residential wind turbines shine. Places where power has traditionally been unavailable now can have a cheap clean power source that will supply electricity for 20 plus years.

Many people on the land who are approaching retirement are adopting residential wind turbines to help offset the cost of their power once they retire. Typically a residential wind turbine system will pay for itself in as little as 6 years, any power produced after this is effectively free.

As I said earlier the costs of a residential wind turbine can vary from about $800 up to $20,000+ depending on what you need.

When considering wind as a power option, be sure to investigate the average wind strength in your area over say a 12 month period to really determine if wind powered electricity is for you. You should look for wind speeds of 10 mph or better for at least 6 months of the year. Checking with the local Bureau of Meteorology would be a good place to start to find this information.

So if you do find yourself in a position where you are fortunate enough to be able to use wind power to generate all or at least some of your electricity. Not only will you be reducing carbon emissions and green house gas production. You will reduce your dependence on the electricity power grid and have the option of selling your surplus power back to your utility provider to offset the cost of your own power.

Another bonus of this is that the power you sell back to your provider is clean power for others to use.

If you currently use wind generated electricity, or indeed own a residential wind turbine I would love to hear from you.

Thanks for reading.

Where has all the water gone?

Today my comments come from Paros. Almost all the islands in the Cyclades we have visited do not have their own supply of fresh water. How do they manage?

In my wandering around the main town here on Paros I cam across these dry canals and many other examples of well built water supply areas – when and why were they built?

Paros, with its dramatic landscape and fertile plains, embodies all that is associated with the Greek islands. Composed mainly of marble, the island rises out of the central Aegean to its peak at 771 meters above sea level.

Paros has been inhabited since at least 4000BC and is famous for its almost translucent marble. Some of the famous statues from Parian marble are the Venus de Milo, the Victory of Samothrace and the Hermes of Praxiteles.

So water must have been around millenia ago – where has it gone? When did the climate change here?

I’d be interested to hear your views……

Water shortgae on Paros?

World Environment Day at Vathy

Today, around the world, there is an increased focus on the environment. Its World Environment Day. What does this really mean to you and me?

For me, it’s a time to reflect on how I have contributed to improving climate change educational opportunities available online since last year. It’s my aim to have freely available project material for all ages of students in a variety of formats. By the end of this month the first packages will be ready for download so I’m very excited about the progress being made whilst I am continuing my research here in the Cyclades.

One of my colleagues is involved in the management of national parks and wildlife reserves in Australia. For her it is a reminder that our climate is changing and there is a limited time to carry out research into native habitats before we need to be preparing plans of management for the changes that are already occuring.

Take some time out today to think about what World Environment Day means to you…..

World-Environment-Day-2009

Sifnos under a clear blue sky

Today we are on Sifnos – another island full of beauty. As World Environment Day approaches (Friday 5 June) I have been pondering the widespread use of wind and solar power on the islands we have sailed to so far. By comparison in Australia we are nowhere near as clever with using the resources of nature available to us.

Wind power in Greece is set to expand by 352% by 2010 to meet the European target of 20% coverage of energy needs from renewable sources.
Greece chose to invest primarily to wind power by 77%, while the rest of renewable sources altogether comprise the remaining 23% of production with hydroelectric power being second with 11%.

Solar energy is commonly used in the isalnds

Look at the sign on the wallof this cafe on Sifnos. Solar and wind generated power are used everywhere in the Greek islands.

Australia could really take a leaf out of their book. Does our coal
abundance make us so scared to admit there are other ways to power our
lives?

Mooring in the heart of Katapola, Amorgos

From the impressive wind generation activities on Levitha we sailed to our next island call of Amorgos.

Wind was quite strong and the sea a little unfriendy although this helped us manage speeds of up to 9.2 knots. The water colour is always amazing. Here is a case in point where we dropped the anchor for a spell after a 4 hour push to Amorgos from Levitha – about 30 nautical miles. I cannot imagine the devastation that would be caused here if any environmental incident occurred.

Liquid turquoise sea color in Amorgos

Amorgos, the island of the “Deep Blue” is located at the southeastern edge of the Cyclades. It features two natural ports, Katapola at its centre and Aigiali at the north. Katapola is considered the best natural harbour of the Cyclades.
We moored in Katapola where we found a small, vibrant community. The mooring is right in the center of town as you can see. Our favorite spot for frappe and waffles is “El Greco” a mere 10 paces from the back of the boat.

On the hill above Katapola you can find the excavations of the ancient city of Minoa. They provide the thread to a continuous 3000 year existence.

The local residents are farmers as well as fishermen. Once again we have found an island that has developed itself for tourism to boost incomes. Here it has also enabled many families who had migrated to return to the island.

Sunset in Katapola with Roger Johnson from South Africa - a good guy