One of the hottest wind turbines in today’s home market is made right here in Northern Michigan—Manistee, to be precise. Called the Windspire, and developed by Mariah Power, the turbine rotates on a vertical axis, is remarkably quiet and, at about 30 feet tall, can be productive without a high tower. Where the wind averages 10 m.p.h., a Mariah Windspire can provide for about 25 percent of an average American home’s energy needs. Outfit your home with high-efficiency appliances, and that percentage rises. Pricetag: About $9,000 fully installed, which the 30-percent federal tax reduces to $6,300. Mariahpower.com (which includes a link to an NPR interview with Mariah Power CEO Mike Hess about small wind turbines).
A Wind Turbine All Your Own Made in Manistee
