Weekend Open Thread | 87 comments (87 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)

Tree that looks like a wind turbine set to silence whiny rurally-based types | NewsBiscuit

Environmentalists are hopeful that a newly discovered breed of tree that resembles a wind turbine could break the deadlock over the controversial power source, as well as silencing some irksome people with nice houses.
The new breed, which was discovered growing in a copse behind a major genetic laboratory, has three pale cream branches capable of rotating at 32rpm in a 10-knot breeze at a height of 146 metres.

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Sat Nov 3rd, 2012 at 12:24:53 PM EST

Re: Weekend Open Thread (none / 0)

"discovered" growing in a copse behind a major genetic laboratory

Uh huh. We all know what that means, right?

Now where are we going and what's with the handbasket?

by budr on Sat Nov 3rd, 2012 at 01:58:36 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Weekend Open Thread (none / 0)

Wind farm noise does harm sleep and health, say scientists
Wind farm noise causes "clear and significant" damage to people's sleep and mental health, according to the first full peer-reviewed scientific study of the problem.
American and British researchers compared two groups of residents in the US state of Maine. One group lived within a mile of a wind farm and the second group did not.
Both sets of people were demographically and socially similar, but the researchers found major differences in the quality of sleep the two groups enjoyed.
The findings provide the clearest evidence yet to support long-standing complaints from people living near turbines that the sound from their rotating blades disrupts sleep patterns and causes stress-related conditions.

[Torygraph Alert]

Wind power

by Jerome a Paris (etg@eurotrib.com) on Sun Nov 4th, 2012 at 04:56:03 PM EST
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Re: Weekend Open Thread (none / 0)

is there no way to attenuate the problem wrt wind turbine design?

by stevesim on Sun Nov 4th, 2012 at 05:10:59 PM EST
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Re: Weekend Open Thread (none / 0)

First you have to have a problem, perhaps then you can "attenuate" it.

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin

by Crazy Horse on Sun Nov 4th, 2012 at 05:17:50 PM EST
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Re: Weekend Open Thread (none / 0)

Well having lived within 150 metres of one, I can say it's something I noticed more than once or twice during a year

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Sun Nov 4th, 2012 at 05:20:38 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Weekend Open Thread (none / 1)

regulations for modern mills are 500m or often much greater. That you were closer likely means you had some awareness that some technology was in some motion. Were you also aware of the coal dust in your nose from +20km distance?
Did you notice the light blue subsonic vortices?
If you still live in such a dangerous zone AND if you haven't seen any one-horned goats, you should leave immediately.

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin

by Crazy Horse on Sun Nov 4th, 2012 at 06:18:14 PM EST
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Re: Weekend Open Thread (none / 0)

The "US state of Maine" is one of the world's most available locations for scientific literature on windpower's effect, having nearly 0.00069% of the global windmill capacity.

To be balanced, some scientists have noticed a distinct loss of sleep among one-horned badgers.

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin

by Crazy Horse on Sun Nov 4th, 2012 at 05:14:35 PM EST
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Re: Weekend Open Thread (4.00 / 3)

Gilligan cites another anti-wind lobbying org with a fake name, the Renewable Energy Foundation. See also Wikipedia.

by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Sun Nov 4th, 2012 at 06:05:49 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Weekend Open Thread (4.00 / 4)

Other critics such as Maria McCaffery, chief executive of RenewableUK, a trade body that represents more than 600 wind and marine energy firms, says the Renewable Energy Foundation's true purpose is diametrically opposed to the interests of the wind energy industry. "It is an anti-wind lobbying organisation," she told BusinessGreen. "I'd like to know where the renewable energy part of their remit is. They don't foster or promote or develop, they just try to undermine the case for wind energy all the time."[6]

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin

by Crazy Horse on Sun Nov 4th, 2012 at 06:22:12 PM EST
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Re: Weekend Open Thread (none / 1)

Wind turbine syndrome: who's doing the research?
Are people getting sick because they live near wind turbines? Opponents to windfarms have been collecting testimonies alleging that communities near wind developments have been suffering a clutch of symptoms they're calling 'wind turbine syndrome'. But although studies that appear to support these allegations have started appearing in journals, the medical community remains skeptical that the evidence base proves the claims. We've taken a closer look.

Wind power

by Jerome a Paris (etg@eurotrib.com) on Mon Nov 5th, 2012 at 03:52:43 PM EST
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Re: Weekend Open Thread (none / 0)

Infrasound seems to be a popular explanation.

Heavy leg syndrome?

by Number 6 on Tue Nov 6th, 2012 at 11:00:41 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Weekend Open Thread | 87 comments (87 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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