Archive for 'Wind'
So you want a wind turbine? Part Two: Permits and progress.
Posted on 21. Dec, 2009 by Lori Katz.
Let’s imagine you checked out your wind quality, identified a good wind turbine, and are ready to try one out at your house in San Francisco. There are still some issues to resolve.
What about the building permits?
The good news is that the City of San Francisco is officially on record supporting the addition of wind power to its collection of traditional power sources and solar.
In an executive directive in August 2008, SF Mayor Gavin Newsome ordered that [...]
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So you want to have a wind turbine? Part One
Posted on 17. Dec, 2009 by Lori Katz.
San Francisco is a breezy peninsula city on the edge of a huge ocean, and one of our local assets, the wind, is increasingly mentioned as a source of energy for our homes as well as our municipality. In this blog and the next, we consider the options for residential wind turbines in San Francisco.
How does a wind turbine work?
The technological principles of wind turbines are simple: wind turbines convert the wind’s kinetic energy into sufficient mechanical energy (shaft rotation) to run a generator. Besides the rotor (with blades/scoops), additional components for electrical production include a generator, gearbox, tower or support, electronic controls, and interconnection equipment. The energy generated can be used by the homeowner or redirected to PG&E to reduce your electric bill.
What kind of wind turbine do I need?
The two most important types of wind generators for residential use are [...]

