# Vertical axis vs. Horizontal axis wind turbines

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vertical-axis-vs-horizontal-axis-wind-turbines/726735>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 1, 2015, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vertical-axis-vs-horizontal-axis-wind-turbines/726735 "2015-08-01T16:39:29Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Mangosteen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Mangosteen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangosteen)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2015, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vertical-axis-vs-horizontal-axis-wind-turbines/726735/1 "2015-08-01T16:39:29Z")

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Are there any studies that have compared the latest VAWTs to the traditional HAWTs?

My home is off grid on the east side of the Big Island (facing the Trade Winds) and I’d like to supplement the Solar and Hydro energy sources I presently use.

I’ve heard that present day VAWTs are quieter and just as efficient now as HAWTs.

(And they look cooler.)

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**Author:** ![Nefario](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/59ef9b/32.png) [@Nefario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nefario)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2015, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vertical-axis-vs-horizontal-axis-wind-turbines/726735/2 "2015-08-01T17:08:04Z")

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Not the answer you’re asking for but consider these wind tubines:

[http://dearchimedes.com/](http://dearchimedes.com/)

- Not too big.
- Way more efficient than “propeller” designs.
- In factory production with an installed user base.

I’d give these a serious look or consider building my own. 🙂

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**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\
**Post date:** [August 1, 2015, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/vertical-axis-vs-horizontal-axis-wind-turbines/726735/3 "2015-08-01T17:14:28Z")

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> [@Nefario](#):
>
> Not the answer you’re asking for but consider these wind tubines:
> 
> [http://dearchimedes.com/](http://dearchimedes.com/)
> 
> - Not too big.
> - Way more efficient than “propeller” designs.
> - In factory production with an installed user base.
> 
> I’d give these a serious look or consider building my own. 🙂

I would absolutely not buy one of these until someplace like Home Power magazine reviews it.