USA - Wind-powered clock towers over downtown

Downtown Kansas City, Missouri was definitely something special this New Year when midnight arrived. Since 12 o’clock pm, a brand new clock tower is the new visual center-piece for the revived city streets. The base of the giant spiral-shaped clock tower stands 30 feet tall and eight feet in diameter.

"The shape of the silver piece is a double helix. It's a DNA-type shape that catches the wind fairly efficiently," Bob Robinett, construction manager, said. Why does the clock need to catch the breeze? Because the double helix functions as a wind turbine that lets the clock create its own power.

The turbine spins anywhere from three to 15 times per minute. It does not generate enough juice to light up the city, but it will serve as a 55-feet tall reminder for citizens to be energy conscious. "It's really time for people to think about energy being wasted, and the materials we use," Curtis Shaddox, clock designer, said.

A four-sided clock that stands six feet tall sits atop the double helix. "People will come from all over and take it back with them and say 'You ought to see this clock they got in Kansas City,'" Shaddox said. The double helix and the clock face is lined with lights that can be seen for miles.