Southwest Windpower, maker of the small-wind turbine Skystream, just announced a refreshed Whisper line of turbines for battery-charging applications including off-grid residential homes.  The Whisper 100 (7′ diameter) has the potential to generate up to 100 kWh per month at 12 mph; the Whisper 200 (9′ diameter) has the potential to generate up to 200 kWh per month at 12 mph; and the Whisper 500 (15′ diameter) has the potential to generate up to 538 kWh per month at 12 mph.

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As the small wind industry grows, it’s becoming easier to buy certain models of turbines online and from big-box retailers.  For example, Southwest Windpower offers the Skystream 3.7 through Home Depot and now offers the Whisper 100 through Lowe’s.  Whisper 100 can produce up to 100 kWh a month in moderate to high winds, according to Southwest Windpower.

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This is the donQi urban wind turbine, which is assembled in Rotterdam.  It’s an interesting small wind product and the subject of a recent article in the September 2011 issue of Dwell.  In the article, Second to None, Jane Szita describes a Passive House near Amsterdam by architect Pieter Weijnen.  The home has some beautiful Japanese-style charred siding and a sleek-white, residential donQi.

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Recently Southwest Windpower announced the availability of the popular Skystream 3.7 wind turbine at select Home Depot stores.  The move puts small wind within reach of more customers as the industry expands every year.  Southwest will start the installation program in Texas, Nevada, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, and California with additional states in the near future.

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The much-anticipated Honeywell Wind Turbine from WindTronics officially launches today, one day prior to Earth Day.  This is a small wind turbine that we’ve mentioned extensively – here’s a video of one spinning.  The launch is supported by a global network of distributors, partners, and retailers ready to sell the unique turbine from a starting price of $5,795, plus installation.

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The small wind market is doing well these days with lots of new companies popping up all the time.  Since 2007, Urban Green Energy, one of these newish companies, has been expanding and growing — their vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) has been installed in 48 countries.  One of their most recent installations was broadcast to the world last month on ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition (pictured).

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