The Red, White, and Green

As I learned with Sommerhaus Piu, sometimes the best-intentioned environmental designs can have unexpected and detrimental consequences. For instance, wind turbines, one of the most important components of our clean energy future (it’s been estimated that the US could supply 16 times the current demand for electricity from wind in the Midwest prairie states alone), can sometimes turn into death blenders for birds.

Now, I would argue that fossil fuels are much more harmful to birds and other wildlife (to wit: extinction related to global warming, mercury pollution, and accidents like the Exxon Valdez), but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t strive for better green design.

That’s why I’m intrigued by the Natura Levo wind turbine, which recently won an International Design Excellence Award and is about to begin prototype testing. The tiny (4-foot) turbine was created by industrial designer Laura Sink, and could conceivably be mounted on chimneys, telephone poles, or the roofs of commercial buildings. There are even plans to incorporate the turbine in electric vehicle (EV) charging stations.

The press release says only that Natura Levo will “peacefully [coexist] with its surroundings.” From the picture shown, it’s clear that this is true from an aesthetic standpoint. But what does that mean, specifically, re interference with birds and other wildlife?

–Jennifer Grayson

Do this now: There are already residential-scale wind turbines available that can take a big chunk out of your energy bill, and substantial federal tax credits are available to help subsidize the cost. To read more about installing a home wind turbine, click here.

Related posts:
Germans say no to underground CO2 storage
‘Green’ architecture harming wildlife

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