Patent ID: 8338975

Claim:
A supplemental power source for a building, said power source comprising: an electrical energy storage unit; a fluid turbine for generating electrical energy, said fluid turbine having: a conduit with an inlet for receiving fluid into said conduit and an outlet for the fluid to escape from said conduit; a blade rotatably mounted within said conduit and being rotated by the fluid as it passes through said conduit; a magnet coupled to said blade and being integrally formed with said blade; a coil positioned about said conduit in a voltage inducing relationship with said magnet during the rotation of said blade, wherein a voltage is induced into said coil allowing an electric current to flow in said coil when the field of said magnet passes coil; and an output device coupled to said coil for transferring said electrical energy to said electrical energy storage unit; and a control unit coupled to said electrical energy storage unit and to said output device for controlling the transfer of said electrical energy to said electrical energy storage unit.