Why are wind turbines always white?
By gljcleeve
@gljcleeve (147)
April 1, 2013 7:53am CST
I was wondering if anyone had any ideas as to why wind turbines are always a very bright and shiny white?
Most people don't like wind turbines because they are a blot on the landscape and are highly visible for miles, usually in very picturesque spots, so why don't they make them blend in a little more?
I realise that they have to have a certainamount of visibility for safety reasons with all the different types of light aircraft and hang glider that are inthe air these days, but most of them should be travelling above the turbines, and I'm sure they could be catered for with highly visible panels while the major parts are more discrete.
I know of very few people who like turbines suddenly appearing within site of their houses or in their favourite beauty spot, great big white whirling monstrosities. So why not camouflage them or make them out of green or brown material with flourescent tips to the blades and a few bright panels for safety.
A lot of people travel some distance to see wind turbines in other areas and photgraph them, wouldn't they look better if they were more colourful, if the pattern of the blades moved as they turned?
And wouldn't such a move make them infinately more acceptable to the general public and aid their proliforation?
Has anyone any thoughts or info as to why this isn't done?
3 responses
@moneylots87 (521)
• Indonesia
1 Apr 13
I don't know too, why they need to be always white in color? And i think it would be great too if the wind turbines colored like green or brown.
But as for my guess, i think it maybe because the white paint is the cheapest (maybe) and white is a natural color too. And maybe if the wind turbine color is green, i think maybe some non commercial low fly air craft wold be kind of confused and can see it cleary. And becuse wind turbines usually higher than trees, maybe the risk to hit the turbine would be higher too. But I don't know that just my wild guess.
@Bluemaple2013 (42)
• Canada
1 Apr 13
There must something with aesthetics, but I'm really not sure. Just proceed from my own feeling that it would be a little bit agonizing if they are red or black and standing so high in the blue sky. The bright colors make it better. what do you think? :)
@rog0322 (2829)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
1 Apr 13
Hi,
It is to make them more visible to low flying aircraft, white provides a sharp contrast to the landscape and they are easy to spot. It is the same with high towers and stack smokes in factories, they are colored a combination of white and red for the same purpose.
