Would you live beside a Wind Turbine?

A strange thing happened recently.

I went to stay with some relatives in Dundalk. I arrived late at night, went to the bedroom, and had a good sleep. Next morning, I pulled up the blind and was faced worh a massive wind turbine a few hundred meters away.

The giant was the height of five or six 2-storey houses, or as high as Liberty Hall, slap-bang in the middle of suburbia. It was unrelenting. It was always in my peripheral vision. When I shut the window and tried to read, I could hear the blades cutting into the wind, which sounded like an the friction created by the wings of an aircraft.

I like wind turbines, they're not so ugly; they are monuments to human ingenuity; they are nearly art; that is impressive. But having seen one up-close, i've begun to rethink their desirability in places where people live. I can understand not wanting a giant turbine on your doorstep.

What do you make of them? Would you be happy to live next to a wind turbine? Maybe Don Quixote had a point.

ancapailldorcha

If it wasn't noisy I don't think I'd have an issue. If I'd paid a fortune to live somewhere with a nice view then I can see why some people might be annoyed.

I see sheep

We should live in Wind Turbines. As a solution to housing issues.

Harry Palmr

How did such a tall structure get PP in this suburban location?

edit is it the IT turbine you saw?

EmmetSpiceland

I think they look class but think they should be in, more, “remote” areas. Wouldn’t like to live under one.

Trigger Happy

My inlaws live near a wind farm in the UK and I kinda like them. Sure they are not pretty but anything has to be better than burning coal for our power.
We will never have our own nuclear power plant in this country and technology for solar power not advanced enough for the meagre bit of sun we do get- so wind and wave power have to be our solution if we want to be self sufficient power wise. Its a choice of that or hoping that the british keep wholesale power prices reasonable.

Harry Palmr

Harry Palmr wrote: »

How did such a tall structure get PP in this suburban location?

edit is it the IT turbine you saw?

That's the one. It's an interesting curiosity for visitors, can't understand how it ever got permission.

Harry Palmr

It's a science and technology project at the IT so that's probably how they got it through and it supplies thier power so it's "green" and that'll please An Bord Pleanala

akelly02

i live near a full windfarm.

lovely area for walks /runs.

bord na mona give me €500 towards my elctricity bill for the year , just for the inconvenience of living so close to them .

Gregor Samsa

I knew a guy who lived in a remote location on the side of a mountain. A wind farm was planned for the mountain, and one of the turbines was due to be built on neighbouring land just behind his house. He was part of a local group objecting to them. That went on for a year or so, but eventually he realised that they weren't going to stop the project, so he sold the house and moved into a lovely house in a nearby town.

A week after he'd moved in, the new owner of his old house called at his door - keys in hand - demanding that he take the house back and refund him his money. He'd just discovered that the turbines were going to be built, and felt entitled to back out of the deal even though it had clearly been totally and legally completed. My acquaintance obviously explained to him that there was no chance of this happening and closed the door on him. Didn't hear after if the guy tried to take any further action, but the wind farm was built a couple of years later.

Yes, I would. Same as I would live near a halting site. Oh wait, the latter was deposited on my doorstep by the local council. Nimbyism is alive and well, upper-middle class folk can fend off these "appalling eyesores" with their prestige and it's the regular Joe who is stuck with them.

Ubbquittious

A few 100 metres might be ok. Anything less and the constant whoosh-whoosh-whoosh would be annoying

hmmm

If I could hear something I wouldn't like it.

However I'm a huge supporter, and think we should be building lots of them. Every one I see is less money going out of the country to some foreign dictator, and it also gives us energy security.

They have to go somewhere, and ideally remote areas which aren't known beauty spots. We may have to ask some people to move house and they should be compensated as a consequence.

Lillyfae

A Lamb Named Miltiades! wrote: »

A strange thing happened recently.

I went to stay with some relatives in Dundalk. I arrived late at night, went to the bedroom, and had a good sleep. Next morning, I pulled up the blind and was faced worh a massive wind turbine a few hundred meters away.

The giant was the height of five or six 2-storey houses, or as high as Liberty Hall, slap-bang in the middle of suburbia. It was unrelenting. It was always in my peripheral vision. When I shut the window and tried to read, I could hear the blades cutting into the wind, which sounded like an the friction created by the wings of an aircraft.

I like wind turbines, they're not so ugly; they are monuments to human ingenuity; they are nearly art; that is impressive. But having seen one up-close, i've begun to rethink their desirability in places where people live. I can understand not wanting a giant turbine on your doorstep.

What do you make of them? Would you be happy to live next to a wind turbine? Maybe Don Quixote had a point.

How did you have a good sleep without hearing anything if you were so bothered about it the next day?

I have one of these right outside my office window and hear nothing tbh. Where I am you tend to have one gigantic turbine instead of multiple smaller ones. Multiple ones tend to be at sea. I think they look quite nice when you're driving the hills in rural Ireland, kind of peaceful. It's for a good cause as well.

The Continental Op

I'd happily live near one. Wouldn't want to be within say 400m but after that no issues.`

This thread needs a poll if its not been done before for Wind Turbines.

Jerry Attrick

Deleted User wrote: »

Yes, I would. Same as I would live near a halting site. Oh wait, the latter was deposited on my doorstep by the local council. Nimbyism is alive and well, upper-middle class folk can fend off these "appalling eyesores" with their prestige and it's the regular Joe who is stuck with them.

Well then, the obvious solution is to join the upper-middle class. I'm sure that if you tried hard enough, you'd manage it. We're always happy to welcome new recruits as it widens the gene pool (although we'd appreciate it if you'd agree to take elocution classes.)

ednwireland

i can see some but they are far away enough away (10km)

i certainly wouldnt want to be close to the big ones they put up now

Banana Republic 1

EmmetSpiceland wrote: »

I think they look class but think they should be in, more, “remote” areas. Wouldn’t like to live under one.

But you would and are breathing in the cancerous emissions from traffic and if you live in an urban area it’s worse.

Not picking on you but there is a real ignorance in wider society about pollution.

JustAThought

Ubbquittious wrote: »

A few 100 metres might be ok. Anything less and the constant whoosh-whoosh-whoosh would be annoying

I think I’d prefer not to really. I like the look of the and the idea that they are the future of energy and saving the planet but the noise would really wreck my head and I think the constant chopping of the light by their ‘arms’/rotars(?!) would make me feel a bit sick - those rotating air circulating propellors on cealing lights always make me feel a bit ill. Guess a giant windmill towering over my home chopping up the light and making giant whoompfuing noises might do the same.

EmmetSpiceland

Banana Republic 1 wrote: »

But you would and are breathing in the cancerous emissions from traffic and if you live in an urban area it’s worse.

Not picking on you but there is a real ignorance in wider society about pollution.

My “issue” had nothing to do with pollution. Purely aesthetic. Nothing to do with ignorance, nor bliss.

AdrianBalboa

Deleted User wrote: »

Yes, I would. Same as I would live near a halting site. Oh wait, the latter was deposited on my doorstep by the local council. Nimbyism is alive and well, upper-middle class folk can fend off these "appalling eyesores" with their prestige and it's the regular Joe who is stuck with them.

So... not in your back yard is what you're saying?

The Continental Op

A Lamb Named Miltiades! wrote: »

A strange thing happened recently.

I went to stay with some relatives in Dundalk. I arrived late at night, went to the bedroom, and had a good sleep. Next morning, I pulled up the blind and was faced worh a massive wind turbine a few hundred meters away.

The giant was the height of five or six 2-storey houses, or as high as Liberty Hall, slap-bang in the middle of suburbia. It was unrelenting. It was always in my peripheral vision. When I shut the window and tried to read, I could hear the blades cutting into the wind, which sounded like an the friction created by the wings of an aircraft.

I like wind turbines, they're not so ugly; they are monuments to human ingenuity; they are nearly art; that is impressive. But having seen one up-close, i've begun to rethink their desirability in places where people live. I can understand not wanting a giant turbine on your doorstep.

What do you make of them? Would you be happy to live next to a wind turbine? Maybe Don Quixote had a point.

I think you'd get used to it very quickly. Used to live under a flight path in the UK and after a while you don't notice them.

A film crew came to film part of a documentary with my employer and had specifically asked about aircraft noise as they were filming outside. My employer said they would be fine as there was no aircraft noise. Come the day of filming there were some well pissed off sound engineers trying to get takes in between the noise of aircraft overhead.

CelticRambler

We have a load of them near where I live (rural France). At the time the most recent lot was up for planning permission, we had all the usual campaigns against them, including the noise. So I went down to the nearest one (at the time), stood underneath it and recorded the noise. You couldn't hear the blades over the sound of tractors, birds, cows, crickets and everything else that makes up the soundscape of rural tranquility.

hirondelle

Lillyfae wrote: »

How did you have a good sleep without hearing anything if you were so bothered about it the next day?

I have one of these right outside my office window and hear nothing tbh. Where I am you tend to have one gigantic turbine instead of multiple smaller ones. Multiple ones tend to be at sea. I think they look quite nice when you're driving the hills in rural Ireland, kind of peaceful. It's for a good cause as well.

I had the same question OP- either it was a calm night followed by a windy day, or only noticed the noise after you knew it was there. Genuinely curious.

RebeccaK21

I hear the sound gives you cancer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqAe41QTUec

the beer revolu

You hear much about the flicker effect.
People talking about the flicker in their kitchen window, driving them mad!

But what this doesn't take into account is that the sun's position changes throughout the day, meaning that it could only be coming in one window for a relatively short amount of time . Also, this can only happen when the sun is actually shining - further reducing the incidence of this.

I've stayed in a house about 150 meters from a windmill and never noticed any effect. Stood at the foot of it and found it very quiet.

I think people who are, generally, against them exaggerate the negative effects of them to a massive degree.

Mad_maxx

yes, unlike most people , I like the look of them

Lillyfae

Lillyfae wrote: »

How did you have a good sleep without hearing anything if you were so bothered about it the next day?

I have no idea! it's strange. I mentioned it in the story as that was the most perplexing aspect. It must be partly psychological. As soon I was aware of the sound of the blades, i couldn't unhear them.

boardlady

I've heard of people complaining of tinnitus and headaches - that they attribute to the near location of a turbine.

boardlady

A Lamb Named Miltiades! wrote: »

I have no idea! it's strange. I mentioned it in the story as that was the most perplexing aspect. It must be partly psychological. As soon I was aware of the sound of the blades, i couldn't unhear them.

Most people sleep well with rhythmical sounds in the background - but like you, you may need to fall asleep first as if it's not a common sound to you, it make keep you from falling asleep in the first place!

The Continental Op

boardlady wrote: »

Most people sleep well with rhythmical sounds in the background - but like you, you may need to fall asleep first as if it's not a common sound to you, it make keep you from falling asleep in the first place!

Get used to it then go away for a bit and you may not sleep well for a few nights.

freshpopcorn

In a strange way I actually find them rather attractive.
My only issue would be noise but in my experience noise can travel funny.

iamstop

I feel like people will eventually get used to them and seeing them as much as say power lines nowadays. No one bats an eye at those. They are so ubiquitous. Wind farms and turbine design may evolve to the vertical style and be less intrusive.
We may also move to heating sand to store energy for times when the wind and solar are slow to produce our needs.

Check out what these Finnish lads are working on:
https://polarnightenergy.fi/technology

Strumms

A Lamb Named Miltiades! wrote: »

That's the one. It's an interesting curiosity for visitors, can't understand how it ever got permission.

It simply got permission because the planning system in this country is ludicrously weighted in favor of business, industry and political movers and shakers who actively will attempt to influence ....

The residents of the pictured apartments and their wellbeing, comfort and enjoyment of life is basically second concern as far as planers are concerned...

biko

If my electricity came free and someone else came around to clean up the dead birds, sure.

The Continental Op

biko wrote: »

If my electricity came free and someone else came around to clean up the dead birds, sure.

Not a cat lover either? Compared with cats the deaths from wind turbines are miniscule

Speakerboxx

I hate the shadow flicker of the turbines in sunny weather.

biko

The Continental Op wrote: »

Not a cat lover either? Compared with cats the deaths from wind turbines are miniscule

That makes it all ok then.

The Continental Op

biko wrote: »

That makes it all ok then.

Yes

inforfun

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-PTzq_vRe1U

The sound is bad enough but this would drive me insane.

biko

As long as the Greens in the big city far away feel good about themselves, that's what matters.


At least in Galway there are no private residences close.

Used to spend a lot of time in a house within earshot of that turbine, never bothered me.
Went to college in DkIT, didn't bother me.
Worked on the campus, didn't bother me.
Went to football matches within 100m of it, didn't bother me.

I guess growing up next to a railway line imbued me with an amazing ability to put up with minor irritations.

jimmycrackcorm

I live next to a road so there is noise from buses, traffic in general and a pedestrian crossing beeping all the time so the noise would not bother me.

I think wind turbines look very majestic also.

Sir Guy who smiles

A Lamb Named Miltiades! wrote: »

..... When I shut the window and tried to read, I could hear the blades cutting into the wind, which sounded like an the friction created by the ....mmm.

The blades of a wind turbine don't cut into the wind. The wind pushes them around; for them to cut into it the wind would have to blowing in the opposite direction to..well itself.

What you heard was the blades resisting being pushed by the wind.

(Pushes glasses up nose)

Markcheese

ancapailldorcha wrote: »

If it wasn't noisy I don't think I'd have an issue. If I'd paid a fortune to live somewhere with a nice view then I can see why some people might be annoyed.

I don't think you're "entitled " to a view under Irish planning - it's a bit vague - I've heard of planning objections being accepted because of blocking a sight line -
Although usually wind turbines are on top of or on the side of a a hill , so hardly blocking much ..

Deleted User

Deleted User wrote: »

Used to spend a lot of time in a house within earshot of that turbine, never bothered me.
Went to college in DkIT, didn't bother me.
Worked on the campus, didn't bother me.
Went to football matches within 100m of it, didn't bother me.

I guess growing up next to a railway line imbued me with an amazing ability to put up with minor irritations.

I'd love to live beside a railway line. There's something supremely satisfying about watching trains.

Bit of a tangent now:

I was only beside that turbine for a weekend, it probably is indeed something you'd get used to. They're remarkably well-engineered, including the way the rotate across the tower axis when the wind changes direction (yawing), so that's kinda satisfying, in fairness.

This wiki article is interesting if anyone is interested in the aerodynamics of it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_turbine_design

looksee

I like the look of them, for themselves and what they represent. We have two very visible from the garden. However I could not live with the flicker shown in that video. There should not be any reason for putting them close enough to homes to create that effect, there is enough space in almost all countries to put them in more remote areas - just far enough away not to have a direct effect.

Markcheese

the beer revolu wrote: »

You hear much about the flicker effect.
People talking about the flicker in their kitchen window, driving them mad!

But what this doesn't take into account is that the sun's position changes throughout the day, meaning that it could only be coming in one window for a relatively short amount of time . Also, this can only happen when the sun is actually shining - further reducing the incidence of this.

I've stayed in a house about 150 meters from a windmill and never noticed any effect. Stood at the foot of it and found it very quiet.

I think people who are, generally, against them exaggerate the negative effects of them to a massive degree.

Light flicker can be a real pain in the arse though ,( you can get it when you're driving ,from hedges / fences under certain conditions ) ,
it should be fairly easy to calculate where and when it's likely to affect though , and the offending turbine/ turbines can be required to shut down during those conditions -

EmmetSpiceland

biko wrote: »

As long as the Greens in the big city far away feel good about themselves, that's what matters.

At least in Galway there are no private residences close.

How are they in Sweden?

the beer revolu

Mad_maxx wrote: »

yes, unlike most people , I like the look of them

I suspect that most people don't dislike the look of them. It's that those who do are very vocal about it!

The Continental Op

the beer revolu wrote: »

I suspect that most people don't dislike the look of them. It's that those who do are very vocal about it!

Thinking about it I rather like single wind turbines and even 2's and 3's its when you get a dozen or more all together in the landscape that I think they start to look wrong.