Some really smart solutions are coming out of Cornell. As an alternative to wind turbines a group of students, under the leadership of Dr. Francis Moon, created a way to make energy from vibrations, not spinning fan-like turbines.

"...the design consists of a series of pads attached to piezoelectric cells that generate current when the pads flutter in the wind. This low-impact design could revolutionize localized renewable energy while providing a safer alternative to bird and bat-unfriendly turbines."


The work is summerized well in this great animation by Antfood

NY Times - Turbine-Free Wind Power from Antfood on Vimeo.

Via