· What is Windterra? · What is unique about Windterra’s products? · What is the average electrical consumption of average home/year? · What’s their track record for performance and longevity in different applications? · What regulatory approvals have been achieved? · Is there sufficient lightning protection? · How easy are they to install? · How much service is offered with the turbine? · Do you need to buy the tower, electronics, and other components separately or are they all included? · How do I purchase a Windterra small wind generation system? · How easy will it be to get replacement parts now and in 10-15 years? · What quality of AC power does the inverter produce? · Does the manufacturer offer any technical support? · Are there special permits required before installing the units?   What is Windterra? Windterra Systems Inc. (Windterra) is committed to the design, prototyping, and production manufacturing of small wind turbine systems for home and light industrial use. Windterra was incorporated in 2003 and is headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, with a test facility in Kelowna, British Columbia. What is unique about Windterra’s products? Windterra is delivering a new paradigm for green energy – small wind turbines! No one has an “affordable” small wind generator for the residential and commercial markets. There are wind generation products, but they are usually Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines directed more towards farm/rural market, requiring a tower installation for greater speeds and laminar wind-flow. The Windterra roof-mounted VAWT has a number of distinct advantages over costlier HAWT systems: 1. VAWTs are omni-directional (can instantaneously accept wind from any direction) as opposed to Horizontal Axis Wind Turbines (HAWTs), which have to constantly rotate so that they are facing the wind. 2. VAWTs are easily roof mountable and are less affected by turbulent air than HAWTs, which make VAWTs far better suited for residential areas where obstacles such as other houses and trees may disturb the airflow. Mounting the VAWT on a roof as opposed to a pole or tower makes the unit more accessible for easy routine maintenance. 3. Windterra's VAWTs rotate at a much lower speed than the very high speeds of existing HAWTs (190 rpm versus 900 rpm), resulting in much lower noise levels and vibration. 4. Windterra’s inverter technology provide efficiencies at lower voltages (lower wind speeds) not seen anywhere in the industry. 5. Windterra's control system allows the turbine to operate at its most efficient level throughout the wind velocity range (dynamic loading). This ensures that the turbine is always producing the most energy possible for a given wind speed without overloading the turbine. 6. Our blade design optimizes the turbine’s performance at typical lower wind speeds. Most designs concentrate on rated wind speed and rated power, which yield a lower annual power output at typical wind speeds. Windterra’s designs focus on generating the most amount of power at typical wind speeds. The result is a higher annual power output - this is what is important to the consumer - annual power output, not rated power! 7. Windterra’s products incorporate grid-tie, as well as optional battery charging capabilities. 8. Windterra’s ECO1200 is a complete "all-in-one" wind turbine system, which includes the turbine, controller/inverter, and mounting system. What is the average electrical consumption of average home/year? The average North American household consumes 9,000 to 12,000 kWh /year. What’s their track record for performance and longevity in different applications? Windterra has thoroughly tested several units on residential and commercial buildings and we will continue to test and gather data to ensure optimal design and performance for our customers. What regulatory approvals have been achieved? UL Listed to UL 1741 Inverters, Converters, and Controllers for use in independent power systems; CSA 22.2 No 107.1 Standards Commercial and Industrial Power Supplies. Is there sufficient lightning protection? There is no protection on the unit itself. Usually if a home is in an area prone to severe lightning, a grounding system will already be in place for the home. How easy are they to install? It will take two professional installers approximately five hours to complete most installations. Professional installers, approved by Windterra or our authorized resellers, will be responsible for the installations. How much service is offered with the turbine? The standard limited warranty on the units is five years. Since these units do not have a gearbox, they are relatively maintenance free. It is recommended that they be inspected every six months. Windterra offers an on-site service contract at an additional cost through our reseller network. For customers who do not purchase the service contract, they will be on a time-and-materials service level. Do you need to buy the tower, electronics, and other components separately or are they all included? Everything that is required to mount the unit on the roof of a residential or light industrial building is included. Additional wiring and small parts will be supplied by the electrical contractor who connects the system to the electrical panel of the home or commercial building. How do I purchase a Windterra small wind generation system? Windterra Eco Systems will be sold and supplied exclusively through our Certified Reseller Network. Please contact us to find a reseller in your area. How easy will it be to get replacement parts now and in 10-15 years? The replacement parts are easy to obtain now and we will keep legacy parts for minimum of ten years. What quality of AC power does the inverter produce? Pure sine-wave utility grid quality power. Does the manufacturer offer any technical support? Windterra will provide technical support to our reseller network. Customers would obtain support from their installing Windterra reseller. Are there special permits required before installing the units? Depending on Country/State/Province by-laws these requirements may vary. Usually Windterra's authorized resellers would apply to the public permitting agency to acquire the permit to mount the unit. They would want to have the schematic of the roof mount system. A second permit may be required from the local electrical company, in which case you would need to provide a Windterra electrical line drawing.