Toni Chanakas · A Greener Ohio-The WindCube

May 17th, 2009

A few weeks back I was extremely excited about a unique design for a new “urban” wind turbine that is going to be assembled on the Cleveland State University campus. This is a new patent design by Dr. Rashidi, Professor of Mechanical Engineering that I had the privilege to witness his recent presentation, almost completed.

To my surprise, an Akron company by the name of Green Energy Technologies has designed and installed their first commercial WindCube® on the roof top of a Port Clinton Company. Green Energy will partner with Roth Bros., Inc. of Youngstown that will provide professional installation, ongoing energy management and monitoring of the WindCube.

How does this technology benefit Northeast Ohio? The WindCube technology, therefore, is expected to create 90 to 120 new jobs before the end of 2009. With the downturn of our economy, this is definitely positive news where we can benefit with these innovative positions to foster our future economy. The WindCube like Dr. Rashidi’s design, is utilized to maximize areas without high winds. More importantly, the wind turbine “allows large power-users to integrate wind energy generation into a variety of standard urban roofs.” Plus, the WindCube captures and amplifies the wind in producing more kilowatt-hours. This will revolutionize the way we think about wind turbines, that are traditionally 50 feet or more. Furthermore, for midwestern cities like Cleveland, the WindCube will maximize our current “wind tunnel” a term used in physics.

This new technology, therefore, produces the most energy within the smallest footprint of any wind turbine, a mere size of 22’ by 22.’ Similarly, there are many different models from rooftop-mounted to tower-mounted depending on your usage and structure availability. Many establishments from Big Box retailers to industrial building and college campuses to name a few can all use this technology.

Our cities vary in breath, size and capacity, therefore, we owe it to future generations to utilize and embrace new ways of living closer to being, “off the grid.” There are federal and state incentives that businesses can get back their initial investment in as little as 2-3 years. 

Why wouldn’t you want to do this? You are saving the environment, cost savings and our nation can become a prosperous future. I don’t know about you, but I am looking forward to seeing one of these innovative inventions on top of or near every commercial, and industrial building in the near future. And perhaps soon, a new patent will be invented for residential property as well to decrease our carbon footprint even more.

For more information, http://www.getsmartenergy.com/the_windcube.php

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One Response to “A Greener Ohio-The WindCube”

  1. Mark Cironi Says:
    May 24th, 2009 at 11:47 am

    OK,the windcube is 1). Very Pice competitive. 2). Conditions the wind through the shroud therefore enhancing the wind eliminating a great deal of turbulence & roughness in the wind. The shroud in other words improves the wind for consumption before it makes contact with the blades. These controlled test were performed by Dr. Spera formerly NASA’s director of the wind tunnel program. 3). This s not a ducted system that passively yaws, it is a shrouded system that has onboard computers that follow the prevailing winds automaticly via the anemometer. The windspire is a registered trademark of Green Energy Technologies and will remain so and yes it was not able to be commercialized so we moved to the windcube which is very competitively priced and has been received by the general business community with great reviews producing many orders for Green Energy Technologies. 4). This is about jobs in OHIO not experimental science projects. We are hiring skilled labor and converting to a green collar labor force. Our website is informative because it has to be. The demand is coming from all over the world not just our little corner of Northeast Ohio. Think bigger with more scope because the focus is not a couple projects but our ability to provide products for large markets to sustain our economy.