New Wind Turbine Could Make Me Go Green

I’ve been thinking about alternative energy for some time because I could use a break from the astronomical electric bills I get hit with.

I’ve looked at solar energy. I’ve considered wind. If I could, I would get off the grid altogether. But from a cost perspective, that’s just not feasible.

So I visited the Solar and Wind Expo at the Timonium Fairgrounds to see what was new.

Before I looked at any of the exhibits I met George Lopez, who organized the event, and asked him why he put the whole thing together.

“The industry needed a place to hang out and show the consumer what they have to offer,” Lopez said. “Now is the time to go green, and it’s not happening fast enough.”

I couldn’t argue with that logic so I went inside and discovered an interesting energy alternative that I think would be worth studying—the Honeywell WT6500 Wind Turbine.

Normally, the thought of wind energy is a turnoff for me because my most familiar concept of it is a wind farm off of Atlantic City, NJ. Huge three-blade propellers are not my idea of an aesthetic complement to any home or even neighborhood, in my opinion.

But this new Honeywell product is different. It’s cool and sleek. Actually, it reminds me of a carnival roulette wheel with silver spokes—and a potential payout of lower energy bills. Perhaps even more interesting is the fin that catches the wind and makes the turbine pivot for efficiency’s sake. Somebody over at Honeywell (actually WindTronics created it and Honeywell lent its good name to it) is thinking.

That was just my impression of it from afar on Sunday.

Once I stopped by the booth and spent a few minutes with Mike and Debbie Taylor of the Taylor Electric Supply Company, I was even more interested because they used a regular household fan to get it moving for the demonstration.

“This turbine is brand new technology,” Debbie Taylor was quick to explain. “Traditional turbines need 7- to 13-mph winds just to get them to turn.”

The Honeywell turbine starts turning at 1 mph, and at 2.2 mph it is already creating energy, Michael Taylor said.

“It will augment your electric,” he said.

But how much of a savings is it?

Michael Taylor said typically it could save an average household about 15 percent on their electric bill.

And how much does it cost?

It’s about $8,200, Taylor said. Add 30 to 40 percent of the equipment cost for installation. And for a little less than $12,000 a system could start saving me money.

What really makes the concept interesting is the tax credit program.

A 30 percent federal tax credit is already applicable to the turbine. Many states have their own companion programs and in Maryland it's called Windswept. 

“We’re in testing and we should qualify for that in 120 days,” Taylor said. “Between the two tax credits, it should take care 50 to 65 percent of the total cost.”

I bet you could probably guess my next couple of questions.

Would it work in Aberdeen and has anybody in this area got one?

The answers are yes and almost.

Aberdeen, and anyplace else that has wind speeds of at least 12 mph, is considered optimal for the new technology.

And as for the almost, Taylor said the Harford County Board of Education has ordered a unit that is yet to be installed because it wants to teach its students about green energy options.

I was impressed and I’ll be monitoring the success that the public school system has with its cool new wind turbine. And if I like it, I just might get one too.