Green Energy News | January 18, 1998

January 18, 1998 – Vol.2 No.42

ENERGIES... week of January 18,1998

PAINT-ON INSULATION. ThermaCell Technologies has been granted a patent on its VaxCell (tm) manufacturing method for evacuated microspheres. Microspheres are uniform, hollow glass bubbles that can be mixed in paint, coatings and other building materials used to create an insulating barrier more effective and less expensive than conventional products. The microspheres are a key ingredient in Thermacell’s line of ThermaCool (tm) paints and coatings.

According to the company, tests of ThermaCool Roof Coatings on roof shingles in Florida showed a 30% reduction in roofing temperatures, reducing air conditioning needs as well as wear on the shingles. The patent will allow further commercialization of ThermaCell’s products along with the exploration of new products such as drywall with high enough insulation values to eliminate the need for traditional insulation. Check out ThermaCell at http://www.thermacell.com .

MINIATURE FUEL CELLS. According to entrepreneur-scientist Robert Hockaday, his Micro-Fuel Cells may soon replace batteries in all kinds of portable electronic devices, such as laptop computers. Hockaday has devised a plan to manufacture the miniature fuel cells in an inexpensive printing process similar to that of computer chips.

The potential of Micro-Fuel Cells would be an environmentally safe power supply that would allow cellular phones, for example, to remain powered-up on stand-by for 40 days instead of 1, and talk-time of 100 hours instead of 2. The Micro-Fuel Cells would be recharged with a squirt of methanol.

Hockaday and his company, Energy Related Devices of Los Alamos, New Mexico, will bring the Micro-Fuel Cell to the manufacturable prototype stage and further commercialization with a $1 million commitment from Manhattan Scientific.

Editor’s note: Further possibilities for the use of Micro-Fuel Cells are left to the imagination of the reader.

COMPUTER CONTROLLED HVAC. Pentech Energy Solutions of San Diego has introduced its state-of-the-art Pentech Energy Recovery Controller (PERC). Installed in existing heating-ventilating-air conditioning systems, the microprocessor-controlled system can save up to 40% in HVAC energy costs through system optimization.

PERC uses temperature sensors installed in supply and return air ducts, along with room thermostats, to send information to the controller to adjust compressor, system fans or fuel valve operating times for maximum efficiency. PERC was developed for use in commercial and institutional HVAC systems which can account for up to 50% of total facility energy costs. It has been demonstrated with organizations such as Burger King and NASA and has improved operating efficiencies on average of 27% for cooling and 23% for heating.