Energy discussions

I've been submersed in things wind powered since January as part of my adviser role in the OHCHS TeamGreen. I've learned a great deal of interesting stuff in my wanderings through the past and current web information that is out there. What I've noticed is that grabbing kinetic power from wind is easy at the spinning rotor but much more complicated trying to manage the power it creates. It occurred to me that a great way to do an end run around the electrical complexity might lie in 'dump loading' power directly to a heating element installed in a hot water heater. We all use lots and lots of hot water- for laundry, showers, dishes, etc. and that water has to be heated up somehow- usually with fossil fuels or electricity or nowadays sometimes solar. Dump load is what complicated circuitry does with excess power after the storage (batteries) are charged to capacity. All very dense and expensive to accomplish. I am imagining that it should be possible to install a small wind turbine lashed to a masonry chimney of many a rural household that would spin out varying amounts to power to a heating coil submerged in a water heater that would at least raise water temperature a few degrees higher and at best a lot of degrees higher to supplement an existing water tanks grid/FF capacity to heat water for our daily needs. I would be simple, relatively cheap, not to onerous to install and effective in reducing CO2 and energy bills. I'm working on a prototype right now and have spent about $300 of hard earned personal income to get to this point. I earn an Ed Tech's wage at school and my business has all but ceased because of the season and economy. Being poor is not a problem for me. Not having money to run with a new, maybe viable idea is. This idea would benefit educational prospects at the High School and maybe even create jobs here in the Oxford Hills down the line if it went commercial. Anyone out there willing to support a dreamer, materially and/or monetarily, to bring Green to the Western Hills. No mater which way the wind blows, it's time to do grab it, use it and make the world better for doing it. I'm stepping off my soap box now. Thanks for your attention.
Scott Currie

I think that we as agroup should talk about what you are doing and lend support to you if it seems workable or moving in that direction. Our support could be actually physically helping you (if people can) and looking into ways we might get a grant for this.
I have been pretty busy lately to do real research into the grant part but will try to take more time to do this.
Instead of looking, looking for things to do, you are doing something and maybe lending our voices is a first step.
Jeanne Jones 6/5/09 PS. I will miss the meeting June 10th so bring this up if someone reads this ( and Scott's)