| Wind energy is one of the best solutions to our | | | | even with low wind condition, the system doesn't |
| current energy crisis. One way to harness the | | | | require a tower or other expensive structure to |
| winds power is through a device called wind | | | | hold it in place which greatly reduces its initial |
| turbine. A typical horizontal axis windmill requires | | | | setup cost. And since the system is close to the |
| an area of at least an acre and wind speed of not | | | | ground, maintenance can be done with ease. |
| less than 11 miles per hour; a prerequisite most | | | | Because of the simplicity of the design, any DIY |
| area doesn't usually meet. Even the device itself | | | | and alternative energy enthusiast can create their |
| can be costly since conventional wind turbine | | | | own savonius wind turbine at home. The material |
| requires tall towers to operate. One of the | | | | often used to create the scoops is made up of a |
| perfect alternatives to typical wind turbine is the | | | | single oil barrel cut lengthwise. The two halves are |
| savonius wind turbine. | | | | then joined at one end to form an "S" shape |
| The savonius wind turbine was invented by a | | | | when viewed from the top. Because the design |
| Finnish engineer named Sigurd J. Savonius in the | | | | uses scoops instead of blades, the system can |
| 1920's. During that time, horizontal axis windmills | | | | run quietly without waking up the neighbors. And |
| were already widely used. But early conventional | | | | because of the lack of long blades, it is safe for |
| windmill designs were quite sophisticated and | | | | birds that would pass near the system. |
| costly to setup and maintain. The savonius wind | | | | However, due to the lack of blades of the |
| turbine became a perfect alternative. The system | | | | savonius wind turbine is also its disadvantage. The |
| was adapted for applications such as water | | | | scoop system it uses to harness the winds |
| pumping and grain grinding. | | | | energy has only half the efficiency of conventional |
| The savonius design has several advantages over | | | | turbine resulting to less power generation. |
| convention horizontal axis windmill. The design | | | | Although the system is short on efficiency, it still |
| patented by Sigurd J. Savonius was one of the | | | | offers some interesting feature such as the low |
| few vertical axis wind turbine; also known as | | | | profile design making it durable even with very |
| VAWT's. Due to its vertical axis, the system can | | | | strong winds. Above all, it lets you enjoy the |
| operate even at varying wind direction; a feature | | | | benefits of the winds free energy all at a less |
| you won't get from conventional horizontal axis | | | | cost. |
| turbines. Because the savonius design works well | | | | |