LEED Leads to Bad Wind Turbine Installations

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a rating system by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) designed to reward architects, builders, and owners for integrating energy efficiency and “green” practices into new and existing structures. The rating system has been in use for more than a decade and has gone through several iterations. Unfortunately, this rating system has been abused and USGBC has done little to rectify the situation.

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UGE Dumps VAWT Business—What Happens Now to Eiffel Tower & Lincoln Field Turbines?

By

Paul Gipe

Controversial developer of “urban” wind projects Urban Green Energy (UGE) is quitting the wind business. Using its in-house designed vertical-axis wind turbine, the New York City-based company installed dozens of the wind turbines on buildings in high-profile locations, including the much-hyped turbines installed inside the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

SWCC: IRS Issues New Guidance for Small Wind Turbines to Qualify for 30% Tax Credit

By

Heather Rhoads-weaver

The U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has issued a notice providing new performance and quality standards that require certification of small wind turbines in order to qualify for the 30% federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC).

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Questionable Turbines and Siting Give Architects, LEED, Green Builders, and Wind Bad Name

By

Paul Gipe

Updated with a photo of the 18 Venger V2 Savonius turbines on the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

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Wind Cube Squarely Over the Top (Now Re-Branded as Wind Sphere)

By

Paul Gipe

Is this another example of Federal capital subsidies driving exceptionally overpriced “wind turbines”?

Three Savonius turbines in front of the Nature Conservancy's building in downtown Indianapolis, Indiana.

Another Poorly Sited Hoosier VAWT Vying for Worst Turbine Install

By

Paul Gipe

Hoosiers have definitely drunk the cool-aid. Worse, it’s another example of architectural greenwashing. According local press reports the Nature Conservancy …

Adobe Systems with Mariah Windspire turbines on top of the parking garage.

Defunct Windspire Wins Greenwashing Award

By

Paul Gipe

In the annals of greenwashing, no wind turbine company has done more to develop the technique to a fine art. It’s as if the company’s entire business model was built on finding participants who wanted a greenwashing project.

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