A project worth the energy

The answer for North Charleston -- or at least an answer -- could be blowing in the wind.

The city made the right choice when it supplemented a $57,000 federal grant with $13,000 of the city's money to install wind turbines on the roof of City Hall.

If things work out as planned, the fans will be propelled by exhaust from the building's heating and air systems. And as they spin, they could produce up to $5,000 worth of power annually.

But the manufacturer of the heating and air systems is concerned about the turbines being placed too close to exhaust fans lest that could create back pressure that would tax the fans. The company plans to run some tests to make a determination.

Even if the turbines produce less power than originally estimated, they will still generate power, and are expected to pay for themselves eventually.

By using them, the city is setting a good example for businesses and individuals to look for ways to reduce their carbon footprints.

This isn't the North Charleston's first step towards going green. The design of its City Hall, completed in 2009, incorporates environmentally friendly features and received a silver Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating.

And who knows what the city fathers might come up with next?

The town of Port Orchard, Wash., for example, installed a turbine generator at its sewage-treatment plant to make use of the flow of treated wastewater.

Wind turbines won't eliminate the city's $420,000 annual power bill.

But every effort, from installing insulation in a home to building a green city hall, is a step toward reducing pollution and our undesirable dependence on foreign oil and fossil fuels.