Michigan Wind Power is a company that is on the forefront of the renewable energy industry, making it affordable for the working man here in Michigan. We sell lower profile wind units that reduce the energy needed in any type of facility, be it a home or a school. While downloading the latest wind unit software to my computer, I had a " good idea!" These wind units are simple enough for a Building Trades Class to install and would produce 200-700Kwh/month for a school, depending on the wind, (some schools may want more units for more power). Then there are the pages of streaming data coming from the computerized interface program that would give several classes real time information to work with, relative to their studies. Science, Math, Geography and Technology classes could all benefit from this data. Students could visualize their own shrinking carbon footprint, while monitoring the savings of the renewable power generated into their school. This idea became Michigan Wind Power's, "Wind In Schools Program". WISP
This would be a good time of year to get a science class out to put up a weather station (costs vary from $250-$3,000) so that by summer break, you have enough data to see if wind power is even viable at your site. Work the weather data into your curriculum and have students use it for Math and Science projects, or a school weather station.(complete with student weather reports, lets be creative) Also, this weather station would give access to accurate heat and wind chill information for your student's safety.
The weather station project could be done as a single project. Then, even if there were not sufficient winds for a turbine, the students have a new awareness of the weather in the world around us, and another teaching tool on the roof. The other option for good wind data is an independent testing service. There is only one company independent of products and power companies that I am aware of in the state, and his web site is; http://northwindmeasurement.com.
If your school wants data without going the weather station route, then contact Tom at North Wind Measurement, and he can set up an assessment for you and give you a cost for his accurate, independent assessment of your site. With those numbers we can predict unit production for you very well.
WISP is Michigan Wind Power's effort to bring renewable energy and our environment into the educational community and bring awareness of production, consumption and conservation of electrical power to the schools and their students through this program. One of these units (Kit=$12,000 w/45' tower) can be installed in as little as 6 hours once the foundation and electrical are in. MWP also supplies plans for the electrical hook-up along with foundation drawings and will provide training.
Anyone that has an interest in "WISP" please e-mail garth@michiganwindpower.net or call 231-645-4479 and we'll line up a site assessment for your school. We only charge $75 for the site assessment, which is refunded if you buy a unit from us.
Don't let technology march past your classrooms!
Garth Ward
Michigan Wind Power
www.michiganwindpower.net
