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What Customers Are Saying About the Windspire
Warren Consolidated Schools in Macomb County, MI
Students working on their Windspire installation, Warren, MI
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What better way to teach children the importance of renewable energy than by teaching them to install their own wind turbine. Students from the Macomb Mathematics Science Technology Center and the Career Preparation Center in Warren, Michigan are enjoying just such an experience, working together to install a Windspire on a K-12 public school. The students are involved in all components of the installation, from design to implementation, including: digging the 2’ x 6’ hole for the foundation, pouring the concrete foundation, assembling the components of the Windspire, and learning how to connect it to the electric grid.
“The Windspire wind turbine has really enlightened and opened up the minds of our students and given them an opportunity to better understand the challenge that wind energy has in solving our reliance on fossil fuels,” said David Walsh, Administrative Consultant for Special Programs for Warren Consolidated Schools and the lead administrator for renewable energy programs across the school district. “This program has provided an outstanding opportunity for our students to do real research on real environmental issues.”
Location: Warren, MI
Application: Hands-on learning tool that will also reduce the school district’s electric bill
Website: http://www.wcs.k12.mi.us/REI/index.htm
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Meet The McMichaels
Meet Roy and Naomi McMichael, proud owners of a Windspire 1.2kW wind turbine. The McMichael’s live on an acre of land in a residential area in Reno, Nevada. Their backyard has open access to consistent southerly winds that blow through the valley bordering the Sierra Nevada. After years of contemplating what do to cut down on their electricity costs, Naomi found a way to take advantage of those winds with a Windspire.
The McMichael’s are enjoying their new Windspire, inviting all of their friends and neighbors over to see it spin in the wind. “I thought the neighbors would come over as soon as it was installed,” said Roy McMichael, “But they said they didn’t even notice it, which I guess is a good thing.”
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Roy & Naomi McMichael with their Windspire during installation
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Location: 1 acre residence in Reno, Nevada
Application: Offset high electricity costs of running their electric furnace and air conditioner
Tax Credit: Applied for 30% federal tax credit for small wind appliances
Local Rebate: $3000 rebate from NV Energy WindGeneration Program
Devon Bank, Chicago IL
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How does a local community bank with more than sixty years of experience continue to compete with a crowded field of newer banks? If you are Devon Bank of Chicago, you reposition your brand as the first green bank in Chicago and build a new soon-to-be- LEED certified branch to show it. To help further demonstrate its commitment to the environment and the local communities it serves, Devon Bank installed six Windspires at the new Wheeling, IL branch for all of their customers and passerby’s to see.
According to Dan Loundy, VP of Devon Bank and project leader, “The Windspires are a great attraction at the Wheeling branch and really show customers that we are serious about being green.”
Location: Wheeling, IL
Application: Offset energy costs at retail branch while expanding on branding of area’s first green bank
Website: www.devonbank.com
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Cheyenne Botanic Gardens
For 31 years the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens has modeled sustainable practices with its solar-heated and powered greenhouse. With construction now underway for the Paul Smith Children’s Village, a facility dedicated to teaching sustainability to children and families, the organization saw an opportunity to expand on its sustainable theme with the addition of a Windspire wind turbine. With average wind speeds of 12.9mph at the site, they are expecting to generate more than 2000kWh’s a year to help reduce their energy bills while educating visitors on wind power.
“This project will be a great educational resource in the region,” said Cheyenne Botanic Gardens director Shane Smith, “The Windspire will help us gather points as we apply for LEED Platinum certification for the new building and the landscape.”
Location: Cheyenne, WY
Application: Power generation, LEED certification and education tool
Website: www.botanic.org
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Cheyenne Botanic Gardens, WY
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