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Should Wind Turbines Be Purple?

Posted November 09, 2010 8:00 AM by Sharkles
Pathfinder Tags: wind turbines

Last month, BBC Earth News discussed a study that linked the color to turbines to the attraction and death of insects, bats, and birds. It was hypothesized that the normal white or grey-colored turbines lure these winged creatures into their blades.

In a study conducted by Dr. James Flint, Dr. Paul Lepper and Ph.D student Chole Long, different colors were tested to determine if the color of a wind turbine altered how many insects and other flying creatures gathered around it.

They laid colored cards randomly next to a 13 m / 42 ft. turbine in a meadow in Leicestershire, UK and found that color did have a significant impact. Lighter colors like white, grey, and yellow drew creatures in as believed, while the color purple was found to be the least attractive of all.

The researchers do not take this information to mean that turbines should be painted purple and that other factors also play a role in attracting insects, bats and bugs. Do you think these findings play a role in protecting winged-creatures?

Source: BBC Earth News

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RVZ717
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#1

Re: Should Wind Turbines Be Purple?

11/09/2010 4:35 PM

1. How many insects/birds and bats are taken out by wind turbines VS the number taken out by Automobile windshields? 2. How many tax payer dollars were spent on this "study"? 3. Are any insect/bat/bird populations actually threatened in any way by the turbines? My guess would be that no insect/bird/bat population actually is in danger of becoming endangered at the hand of wind turbines. The ridiculous sums of money spent on these studies could be better spent on a multitude of things that actually would be economically viable.

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Apothicus
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#6
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Re: Should Wind Turbines Be Purple?

11/10/2010 11:23 AM

If the only studies undertaken were those with immediate financial impact or those with obviously foreseeable impact, how many useful and benificial things would never have been discovered?

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#2

Re: Should Wind Turbines Be Purple?

11/10/2010 3:02 AM

So purple cars are the answer. Wow
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Usbport
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#3
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Re: Should Wind Turbines Be Purple?

11/10/2010 8:46 AM

No. Purple windshields.

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Anonymous Poster
#4

Re: Should Wind Turbines Be Purple?

11/10/2010 9:50 AM

Are these guys batty? What a bunch of birdbrains! This really bugs me.

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Anonymous Poster
#5

Re: Should Wind Turbines Be Purple?

11/10/2010 10:03 AM

Bugs you? Try a purple hat.
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Apothicus
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#7

Re: Should Wind Turbines Be Purple?

11/10/2010 11:30 AM

Do bird bat and bug guts on turbine blades affect their efficiency? How much? Would keeping them off the blades cut maintenance costs? How much? Does it cost more to paint them purple? How much? I see a possible cost saving here over the long run depending on the answers to my questions. Yes paint them purple.

Now lets examine why does purple hold the least attraction for such a wide varietly of animals. This could have consquences for many applications from pest control to disease prevention.

There are no "stupid" questions.

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snowboy
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#9
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Re: Should Wind Turbines Be Purple?

01/12/2011 6:16 PM

Amen to that! If colour is a significant factor it needs to be noted and studied. Ignoring data is not an option.

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cwarner7_11
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#8

Re: Should Wind Turbines Be Purple?

11/13/2010 2:58 AM

I LIKE the idea of purple wind turbines. I am not at all concerned about what insects, bats and birds happen to think of my color preferences...
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129CBRider
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#10

Re: Should Wind Turbines Be Purple?

12/22/2011 11:19 PM

Yes! I want the contract...
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Previous in Blog: Energy vs Water – Preventing Shortages with New Technology (Part 4)   Next in Blog: Geoengineering is Banned...Maybe
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