I think a vertical windmill with magnetic generator is the most effective way. It will take less wind and produce with less downtime. Any members use these?
Hahaha, @Icertuche when our son painted our outbuildings a couple of years ago, he painted them in "camo". We laugh about how we can't find the sheds anymore.
I've realized over the years that the buildings I've like the most were the ones that blended into their surroundings. In San Jose, CA there is an office building that is entirely surfaced in mirrored glass and surrounded by trees. You have to look VERY carefully to see the outlines of the building instead of the reflected trees.
One of the prettiest fences I ever saw was an 8 foot board fence painted to look like a redwood forest in the mist. With their real plantings in front of it, you really didn't realize there was a barrier; it looked like their land went on forever.
i was looking at this some time ago. i came across a company from chicago who built something like a dna molecule. you know? like a double helix. the idea was just as you suggest - make it work in light wind. i wanted to try and mount one on our front porch, but never got around to it. i'll root around to see if i can't find more for you about that company.
good luck.
I am constantly responding to old posts. I click on the new post button and scroll down and wa la. I wish there was some way old inactive post would delete itself. I guess I should look at the date before responding but I am still curious about the 'vertical windmills', lol.