My nine year old daughter still receives Highlights magazine in the mail on a monthly basis. If you have a child and have ever spent any amount of time in a pediatricians office, you have probably logged a fair amount of time flipping through this magazine while waiting to see the doctor. This weekend I was at home flipping through the November issue of Highlights and was very surprised to find an article about Microturbines. The introduction gives the basics of how a turbine works. Then the single page article give a very good description of how you can take jet engine technology and shrink it down to provide electricity.
Engineers had to solve several problems to squeeze a jet engine down to the size of a microturbine… Today, a microturbine can fit inside a cabinet the size of a big refrigerator. It makes enough electricity for 10 to 15 homes and helps heat them as well.
The amazing idea for me is that it wasn’t an article about solar power, or even fuel cells. I understand they may have already covered those topics in past months, I was very surprised and happy to see an introduction to a small niche player in the alternative energy sector. It is also a good indication about this represents the wave of the future. This children’s magazine is doing a good job about introducing new ideas and concepts to our children. We are starting to present the wonders of science and alternative energy to the next generation at a young age and I feel this is a great idea. I’m sure Capstone Turbine Corp (CPTC) is pleased and maybe Keith can let me know if they had a hand in helping to write the article (hint?)
