Philippe Starck is back--apparently the reports of design's death were greatly exaggerated--and Inhabitat takes a look at his new project, a mini wind turbine coming out in September.

The windmill can generate 20-60% of the energy needed to power a home, at a price point of around 400 Euros ($633). Not realistically within everyone's budget, but by combining creativity and elegance with ecology Starck will hopefully encourage more people to take greener steps. And for those who don't want their conservation pieces to be conversation pieces, a subtler version has been proposed.

The project was realized with the help of Pramac, a company better known for its petrol and diesel generator sets but one which has recently entered the renewable technology field. We can't help but think that Starck's latest design is a sign of his own transformation, marking the start of his new career as an advocate of sustainable design.