The Power of Wind

Not particularly focused on landscape per se, but the idea of building integrated wind is fascinating, and there are a bunch of interesting examples I thought I would compile here, with some minimal explanation. Much like urban ag, wind is a hot topic, specifically small(er)-scale turbines technology. Check these out.

A Portland project for a new Boat Storage features some integrated wind, amongst a variety of other sustainable features (from Portland Architecture): "The project is also shooting for a Gold LEED rating and one of its distinguishing features is a series of vertical wind turbines and hopes to achieve a "net-zero" energy metering. The project also will harvest its own rainwater to save 20,000 gallons of potable water per month, which will also be a visible part of the project as the two cut-out portions of the front facade will feature collecting pools for the rainwater that recall the upcoming World Trade Center memorial, "Reflecting Absence". It's also much better environmentally for the Willamette River to not have these boats rusting and leaking away in the water."


:: image via Portland Architecture

Via Inhabitat, a project with a lot of great ideas including the most integrated solution that combines wind, solar, and carbon dioxide reduction. "The Nano Vent-Skin is a zero-emission material that takes a tri-partite approach towards energy efficiency. First, it soaks up sunlight via a photovoltaic layer, and transfers energy via nano-wires to storage units at the end of each panel. Second, its tiny turbines employ “polarized organisms” to create chemical reactions, generating power each time the turbine makes contact with the structure. Third, the organisms present in the inner skin of each turbine soak up C02."




:: images via Inhabitat

There are also a bunch of great images of the tower, including the integration and how the skin looks from the interior and exterior.

:: images via Inhabitat

Another via Inhabitat, a smaller-scale variety... "The new Swift Wind Turbine is meant for rooftop residential or commercial applications and will be available in July of 2008."




:: images via Inhabitat

Again from Inhabitat, a small-scale version "“Architectural Wind is designed to install easily onto the building parapet, operating in plain sight as an attractive complement to the building’s architecture. Additionally, based on its proprietary system design, Architectural Wind turbines rotate at low wind speeds, resulting in a form of ‘kinetic architecture’ that communicates clearly the generation of clean energy. Working alone or in tandem with other renewable energy technologies, Architectural Wind is designed to offer an attractive ROI and cost per kW of installed capacity.”




:: images via Inhabitat

Treehugger had a much larger variety atop the central span of the Bahrain World Trade Center. "The building's sail-shaped towers channel the strong on-shore winds directly onto the three 29m-diameter turbine blades, which are expected to provide 11-15% of the building's power when fully operational."

:: image via Treehugger

Another couple via Jetson Green. The first is a project from Smith Gill (formerly of SOM) "One of their newest projects, Clean Technology Tower, builds on principles of biomimicry and utilizes technology and building systems to interact with the surrounding environment."

:: image via Jetson Green

:: image via Mad Architect

And another one from Jetson Green...

:: Discovery Tower, Houston - image via Jetson Green

There are obviously a few issues with habitat surrounding wind technology and possible disruption (and mortality)associated with wind - mostly documented in larger scale wind farms. These issues will definitely need study to determine the local impacts for urban fauna... particularly in proximity to flyways, nesting sites, and waterways... will these smaller scale varieties have the same issues as larger-scale versions, such as this water-borne array in Sweden?

:: image via Atelier A+D