When speaking about a windmill, nowadays we usually refer to that machine utilized to transform wind energy into mechanical energy.

Looking back in the previous years, we see that the very first practical windmill, that appeared quite different than the actual concept of what we nowadays call a windmill, was the vertical axis windmills. They were formulated in eastern Persia, around the 9 th century, despite that there are some stories telling that in the 634-644AD this model of machinery was already being used. A similar windmill was utilized in China in the 13 th century.

The vertical windmill originated in northwestern Europe, more exactly in northern France, eastern England and Flanders, during the late part of the 12 th century. These windmills were utilized to grind cereals and their specialty was that the total body was moving, unlike the tower mills that showed up in the 13 th century, and had only a part that was rotating, known as 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 utilized for various activities, such as grain grinding, sawmills, threshing, for land drainage or water supply.

Windmills had an extremely important participation in allowing the farming and the ranching of vast areas of North America. Likewise, they were used to broaden the rail transport across the world, as they were pumping water from wells to provide steam locomotives. In Canada, They were part of fortifications. One of the most unforgettable 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 displaced by internal combustion and steam engines. Without doubt, despite of being an imminent step in the development of technology, these sources of energy were classed as grave pollutant factors.

That is why, nowadays people tend to come back or to look for 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 individuals are willing to make financial forgoes in order to make a long-term investment that in addition to helping them reduce their energy bills, is 100% ecological.

Very much like in other areas, the old-fashioned trends are coming back, and when considering energy, this is true too. People have begun to realize the harm they have caused to our planet, and endeavor to change this. The fantastic, old windmill is now reborn and ready to help us get the Planet earth back on feet.

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