The Mariah Power Windspire recently received Popular Science’s stamp of approval when it won a Green Tech award in their December issue. The award represents a significant step forward in a given category.

The Windspire solves a few problems that traditional wind turbines run into. Zoning laws that prohibit the height that a typical wind turbine requires is not a problem with the Windspire which snags the wind at 30 feet and below. The Windspire design uses vertical blades which can start in even low wind conditions without the aid of a motor.

The annual energy production of the Windspire is 2,000 kWh. A single-person household uses about 3,000 kWh per year. If you live in a relatively windy area you could plant a couple Windspires, maybe throw in some solar panels and you’d be set to handle the energy needs of a full family.

The Windspire is retailing for $5,000. Not bad considering the small wind tax credit available in the U.S. will provide a 30% credit off the installed cost of a small wind system like this.

When it comes to wind energy, most people think of collections of huge wind turbines that pump large amounts of electricity into the grid. However, with people more and more interested saving a buck - as well as the planet - there has been a growing interest in backyard-scale wind turbines. These smaller machines can allow a small house or cottage to go off the grid, or allow a farm to create some of its own power.

So how do you know if a home wind turbine is for you? Small scale wind turbines are for you if:

• You have at least 1/2 acre of property with good wind
• Your local zoning allows a wind turbine installation on your property
• Your neighbors are okay with you installing one
• You want clean renewable energy or some independence from the grid.

You could also try one of Mariah Power Windspires? These are vertical axis wind turbines, which are silent and don’t have rotating blades - a feature your neighbors may  appreciate. They stand at 30 feet tall and measure two feet wide with rotors that begin at a safe ten feet off the ground. A Mariah Power Windspire, which can be installed in a matter of hours, will set you back around $3,995 and are available in a variety of colors.