Windmill

When talking about a windmill, nowadays we usually refer to that machine used to convert wind energy into mechanical energy.

Looking back in the past, we see that the first practical windmill, that looked quite different than the actual concept of what we nowadays call a windmill, was the vertical axis windmills. They were invented in eastern Persia, somewhere around the 9th century, even though there are some stories telling that in the 634-644 AD this type of machinery was already being used. A similar windmill was used in China in the 13th century.

The vertical windmill originated in northwestern Europe, more exactly in northern France, eastern England and Flanders, during the late part of the 12th century. These windmills were used to grind cereals and their particularity was that the whole body was moving, unlike the tower mills that appeared in the 13th century, and had only a part that was rotating, called the timber cap.

Another windmill type is the smock mill, invented in England, in 1745, and which is a variation of the tower mill. Back then, windmills started to be used for various tasks, like grain grinding, sawmills, threshing, for land drainage or water supply.

Windmills had a very important contribution in allowing the farming and the ranching of vast areas of North America. Also, they were used to expand the rail transport all over the world, as they were pumping water from wells to supply steam locomotives. In Canada, They were part of fortifications. One of the most memorable ones, was the one from Fort Senneville, also called the “most substantial castle-like fort”.

But, with the industrial revolution, the windmill’s place as an energy source was substituted by internal combustion and steam engines. Of course, despite of being an inevitable step in the development of technology, these sources of energy became grave pollutant factors.

That is why, nowadays people tend to come back or to find alternative energies, to stop the damage that toxic gases have brought to our planet. Wind and solar energy are becoming our favorites these days and people are willing to make financial sacrifices in order to make a long term investment that in addition to helping them reduce their energy bills, is 100% ecological.  

Much like in other areas, the old-fashioned trends are coming back, and when talking about energy, this is true too. People have begun to realize the harm they have brought to our planet, and try to change this. The good, old windmill is now reborn and ready to help us get the Earth back on feet.