Cascade Engineering has built a new type of wind turbine perfect for residential installation: the SWIFT Wind Turbine. A major complaint for many interested in adding wind turbines to their homes or offices is the noise that many wind turbines generate along with power. But Cascade's new product represents a major change in what can be expected from a wind turbine.

The American Wind Energy Association estimates that the small wind turbine market will grow 20 percent through 2010 — but that doesn't take tax incentives into account. With calls for small wind from Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York and other local governments, small wind is poised for a boom. Federal tax incentives starting in 2009 can benefit home owners (up to $1,000 per turbine) and owners of commercial properties (up to $4,000). With incentives like that, it wouldn't be surprising to see the small wind turbine market grow by as much as 50 percent by 2010.

Cascade's engineers have created a turbine that creates less than 35 decibels of noise regardless of wind speed. The turbine has five blades, with a seven-foot diameter and its relatively small size makes SWIFT useful on smaller residential properties. According to Cascade, the sustainable design and production of SWIFT allows it to become carbon and energy positive within just four years. The SWIFT Wind Turbine has already received the Underwriter Laboratories certification from MET Laboratories.

The Frauenthal Center for the Performing Arts is test-driving a SWIFT turbine installation. The project was funded by Lou Eklund, a local philanthropist who envisions helping non-profits and government agencies to switch to renewable energy.

Image — Cascade