Wind Power in Commercial Environments

When you mention "wind power" people have visions of giant wind farms on mountain plains, generating electricity with giant turbines standing 300 feet tall. While these are excellent sources of electricity, they are not what we discuss when we talk about Wind Power in commercial environments. For you, wind power involves small turbines, resembling a weather vane designed in the shape of a football.

This compact design - standing only six feet tall - can generate significant electricity. Wind flows steadily on most days at altitudes of just 30-40 feet above ground level. The higher you place the unit, the more wind you can find. These new turbines are much smaller, quieter and require a much smaller footprint. You can place multiple units on top of a build and generate electricity around the clock, day and night, in good weather and bad. As long as minimal wind requirements are present, you will be producing electricity.

Wind Power for Retailers

Retailers need the edge in this economy to attract new business. Operating a business using green energy isn't just good for the environment - it is also seen as a huge positive by their customers. While solar panels tend to sit flat or at an angle, the wind turbines stand above the roofline of the building, for all to see. Its appearance is attractive and builds curiosity - the same type of curiosity that can attract new tenants to your buildings.

Retailers tend to have large footprints and large roofs. You can place one or more wind turbines, along with solar panels and/or solar heating tubes. Federal, state and utility credits and incentives reduce the cost of the system significantly. Your tenants can boast green energy, while you can boast about bringing in more tenants than other property owners in your region.

Wind Power for Apartment Buildings

Apartment buildings can also benefit from wind power. Many multi-tenant buildings are three to twenty floors or taller. The roof area, as a percentage of rentable space, tends to be smaller. In this situation, dense wind turbines can be a great solution. You can place multiple turbines on your roof, with each requiring the floor space of roughly one large couch. Configure buildings with several units - even dozens of units - and maximize your wind capture with limited space.

As with retail locations, you can use multiple systems in your green energy strategy. Solar panels, solar heating tubes and wind turbines can all play a part in your green strategy.

Wind Power for Office Buildings

Offices use significant amounts of electricity. Placing wind turbines on the roof of a multi-story building gives you added elevation, high wind velocities and sustainable power opportunities. Wind is available 24/7, depending on weather conditions. You can produce wind power at night (solar clearly cannot) as well as on weekends when offices are vacant. You can sell excess electricity produced during off hours to the utility companies, at the same rate they charge you for power.

Wind Power for Industrial Use

Industrial buildings - such as warehouses and manufacturing - often have a large roof area, suited for multiple green energy devices. Wind turbines - taking a footprint of 3 feet x 8 feet - are a great part of the strategy. Electricity is as expensive as ever, and industrial applications consume significant amounts of power. Depending on the wind availability in your area, wind may be a great option or portion of the overall strategy.

As with offices, many industrial buildings close on weekends, giving you the opportunity to produce additional electric that can be sold back to the utility.