Imagine a mini solar/wind generator that would work in an apartment/condo-specifically an apartment/condo with a balcony. The Greenerator is just such a gadget. The whole mini solar cell/wind turbine is estimated to generate up to six percent of electricity used by apartment dwellers. Of course, this all assumes that your apartment gets sunlight and/or wind.
Jonathon Globerson is the creator of the Greenerator. He wanted to create a way for apartment dwellers to access green energy similar to homeowners. Trying to get a wind turbine installed or solar panels on the roof of an apartment/condo building means endless meetings, committees and arguments.
The Greenerator gets around all of that and gives occupants a method of improving their carbon footprint without engaging or offending the neighbors. When installed it is no more offensive than a wind spiral.
It incorporates a flexible solar panel that bridges the balcony rail and hanging wind turbine. The wind turbine combines three spiral blades, generator, gears, upper and lower casing, and levitation magnets.
The pole connecting the entire wind turbine runs through an upper bracket connecting the turbine to the frame. The solar panel is affixed to a solat baseboard that runs from the wind turbine to the back of the frame where it connects with a controller/ultracapacitor/invertor.
The frame connects to the balcony with brackets and then runs down to the balcony floor where it is connected to screws. An electric cable runs from the controller/ultracapacitor/invertor down the framework and into the house. Presumably there is a plug that allows you to connect different appliances/devices to your Greenerator.
Globerson estimates that the amount of energy generated by the Greenerator would be enough to power one of the following: a 32 inch flat panel TV, desktop computer, stereo system, 3X40 watt CFL bulbs, a refrigerator (no specific size specified) and 2.5 laptop computers. That’s quite a lot of juice. It is unclear if the amount that the inventor claims is with both solar and wind engaged or if each part working separately would generate as much.
He also estimates that each apartment/condo unit would save: six percent on energy bills, reduce CO2 by 2,000 pounds, reduce Nitrogen Oxide by five pounds and Sulfur Dioxide by five pounds. Now multiply that by a 40 unit complex and that is a significant reduction in greenhouse gases and energy bills.
Prototype testing shows that the turbine will work when it is windy but it also shows a great deal of friction. There are no verified figures on how well the combo energy generator will work or how accurate Mr. Globerson’s predictions are.
The Greenerator is intended to be a do-it-yourself kit that requires assembly. If you aren’t particularly good with reading directions or working a screwdriver this is not something that you should look forward to hitting the market. If you like assembling such gadgets than by all means, should it become available, install it and tell us how well it works.
