http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/ Engadget Comments for Philippe Starck shows off "Democratic Ecology" wind turbine http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/Jul 2nd 2008 3:58PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/Jul 2nd 2008 4:01PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/Jul 2nd 2008 4:02PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/ AC inverter and grid tie-in. This will feed energy back into the grid when you're generating and reduce your electric bill equivalently. To get fully up and running off-grid you'd get a nice array of batteries as well as DC -> AC inverters. This is where the major costs lie for alt-energy residential installations. ]]>Jul 2nd 2008 4:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/AC adapter isn't exactly rocket science - can't be expensive. A grid tie-in would have to be supported by the local electric company and/or government. The electricity company doesn't really have an incentive to allow you to save - they make less money - so it's hard to see why they'd be excited about it. Therefore there need to be strong laws and/or financial support for the grid tie-in.

Batteries are very expensive and hard to maintain - I'd hate to see my house-powering battery array at 50% capacity after 2 years. It would potentially destroy the ecology-equation when I have to dispose of toxic chemicals for the batteries and so on. A grid tie-in would be practical.

Grid tie-in pending, I will get 2 or 3 of these. It's not just about money either - it's about being conscious of the ecology, about doing something to save the planet. I'd imagine there would be millions like me. "What are you doing for the environment?" "I am running a couple of wind turbines". The goal would be to have zero energy impact for my home at some point.

Making them pretty or at least non-ugly is key to wide-spread acceptance. I applaud this effort and P Starck.
]]>Jul 2nd 2008 5:38PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/Jul 2nd 2008 8:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/Jul 7th 2008 10:32AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/
How big is it though? You can't really tell from the photos. It says that the turbine can generate 20-60% of the energy you need to power a house, but how much does it generate?

Also what is the minimum sustained windspeed needed to generate that kind of power with this turbine?

$600 isn't bad but do you also need to buy a whole bunch of other procey components to get it hooked up into your grid?

Too many questions, not enough answers Mr. Starck. The guy does make some nice stuff sometimes but he is a total quack.]]>Jul 2nd 2008 4:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/Jul 2nd 2008 4:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/Jul 2nd 2008 4:17PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1293/534460919_945af435a7_o.jpg
]]>Jul 2nd 2008 4:29PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/
http://www.dwr.com/product/pg/kartell/louis-ghost-armchair.do?search=basic&keyword=Starck&sortby=ourPicks&page=2
]]>Jul 2nd 2008 5:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/
http://www.fossil.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/SearchResultsView?D=STARK&Dn=0&Ntt=starck&Dx=mode+matchallpartial&Ntk=FossilSearchEn&langId=-1&storeId=12052&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&N=0&catalogId=10052&categoryId=30000&in_dym=1
]]>Jul 2nd 2008 5:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/Jul 2nd 2008 5:43PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/Jul 2nd 2008 4:05PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/Jul 2nd 2008 4:05PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/Jul 2nd 2008 4:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/
Yea my guess is about $15,000 worth of more equipment. I think that price is just for the new "blades" that turn with the wind.]]>Jul 2nd 2008 7:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/
Since my home only consists of me and my bed ridden father, and since I'm at work half the day, this could save me a pretty penny. I look forward to its release and additional details.]]>Jul 2nd 2008 4:22PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/Jul 2nd 2008 4:22PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/
http://www.absak.com/catalog/index.php/cPath/29_127_204]]>Jul 2nd 2008 11:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/
]]>Jul 2nd 2008 4:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/
oh wait, wind turbines? damn. they still kill birds though, right? so like, maybe just invent the chest repulsor? ]]>Jul 2nd 2008 4:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/Jul 2nd 2008 4:55PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/Jul 2nd 2008 5:31PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/Jul 2nd 2008 6:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/
Installed cost will be much more for his "$600" wind turbine, assuming its a 10kW turbine. That's the size that makes a difference when you are trying to tie in to the grid to reduce your electric cost. I suspect its a 1kW system for battery charging.

You have to put turbines on a tower in most places, and that drives up the cost by $9,000 to $12,000 just for the guyed, 60' tower and assorted installation materials (self-standing towers are more). You need an inverter the utilities recognize and will allow to be attached to the grid. A GridTek 10 inverter is $8,600.

]]>Jul 2nd 2008 6:59PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/Jul 2nd 2008 6:59PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/Jul 2nd 2008 7:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/Jul 2nd 2008 9:34PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/Jul 2nd 2008 9:37PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/Jul 2nd 2008 10:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/
"Hey, we lost the signal!"

"Yeah, it was a pretty still day....where are you going?"

"I'm just going to go spin the turbine for a few minutes."

"Well, please don't fall off the roof...."]]>Jul 2nd 2008 11:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/Jul 2nd 2008 11:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/Jul 3rd 2008 1:21AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/
As for the Windmills statement of, "they still kill birds though, right?"... I say if a bird is dumb enough to fly into one and get killed you've just helped that species of bird by eliminating one of the dumb ones and preventing it from passing on it's "dumb genes" into the next generation. Same thing with those indecisive squirrels on the road, I don't slow down for them anymore and the squirrel population is better for it! :P
]]>Jul 3rd 2008 9:44AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/
http://www.internetevolution.com/author.asp?section_id=625&doc_id=155456&f_src=flffour]]>Jul 3rd 2008 11:19AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/

Its a lie.


Simple as that. Go look at real wind turbines designed for home use and compare to that beautiful hock of crap. Not only is it based aerodynamically off of a hundred year old TOY, but it has no aerodynamic design features, which tells me that the entire story about "partnering with a wind turbine company" is BS.

This guy is known for being bat-shit crazy. And now he's an expert in wind turbines? Pssh, gimme a break.]]>Jul 3rd 2008 1:32PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/
The horizontal design (vertical axis) is very low profile/visibility and the gearing allows a slow rotation (approx. 20 RPM or three second per full rotation). My current design uses nine hinged blades which weathervane to reduce drag on the windward journey and does not require furling.

PMM generator (E-bay) $45.00
Junk yard bearings and material $20.00
Wind vanes (plastic trash can sides) $36.00
two deepcycle batteries $165.00
coleman inverter $100.00 INEFFICIENT!!
Xantrex controller $80.00
4 guage wire (roof to controller) $150.00

This will not power my house but provides a suitable back up for brown outs, power failures,etc...

I feel if an engineer / electrician / (smart person) finessed the design it might be capable of additional efficiency. Currently,I can probably power my aquarium! LAME!!!

However, It does work! and it ain't expensive. THXJREID]]>Jul 8th 2008 2:23PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/You can't currently get a small wind turbine of any kind, that I'm aware of, for $600 and they all need the "associated hardwear", so the criticism of Starck for that is unfounded.
Many States are required to allow tie-in's, but they charge for it, regardless of who's wind generator you use or solar panel you want hooked up. If Starck had said it was going to be dirt cheap you could call him a liar, but to say that what he's designed is bad when he may have produced a product more people may use is ridiculous. Rain on someone else's parade.]]>Aug 14th 2008 3:04PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/
there is a reason that wind turbines are designed the way they are.]]>Jan 12th 2010 8:36AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/Jan 26th 2010 9:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/02/philippe-starck-shows-off-democratic-ecology-wind-turbine/Jan 26th 2010 9:04PM