The Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) published a report that supports Luby’s claims.  The report states that Coolerado “can help Federal agencies reach the energy-use reduction goals of EPAct 2005, particularly in the western United States.  This technology has the potential to have a significant impact on an agency’s energy bills in terms of reducing both energy and demand costs.”

The development of these sustainable products is what the U.S. Green Building Council had in mind when it launched its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) certification programs.  Under the LEED® rating system, points are awarded for energy efficiency and the Coolerado air conditioning system.

President Obama is encouraging the creation of green jobs and products in his stimulus plan.  Products like the Coolerado system can do much to reduce the strain on the U.S. power grid process and make America lees dependent upon foreign energy products.

Luby indicated that the Coolerado technology was the result of nine years or research and development.  Coolerado products are already in use in hundreds of government, commercial, industrial and residential buildings around the globe.

Texans seeking LEED® certification would do well to research the Coolerado product line. Users report a high rate of satisfaction on both the expense and comfort sides.

Materials science professors Ichiro Takeuchi and Manfred Wuttig, who conceptualized a new cooling method utilizing the metal, will lead the research into practical real-world applications on this campus, material science and engineering department chair Robert Briber said. Researchers in other parts of the country will also assist.

The university’s research will focus on the cooling of the thermoelastic shape memory alloy, in which deforming metal reduces ambient temperature, according to Briber.

“Refrigeration is a ubiquitous technology fundamental to every aspect of human life,” Takeuchi wrote in an e-mail, and current refrigerants “are all harmful to the environment and cause global warming.”

By using the thermoelastic shape memory alloy — which materials science professors at this university first discovered — manufacturers could replace water-based cooling systems, potentially reducing electricity consumption and taking up less space, Briber said.

“If the project is successful, we will be able to reduce the electricity bill by a large amount. We can also use it to reduce emission of all the environmentally harmful refrigerants,” Takeuchi wrote.

The researchers know that the metal has the potential to cool small areas but they will be building a prototype cooling unit to test whether or not it is more efficient than the current method. They hope to make their initial demonstration of the product in one-and-a-half to two years, Takeuchi said.

This project will allow the scientists to “bridge from fundamental research into the actual prototype,” Briber said.

Lead researcher Takeuchi’s research interests include temperature scanning microscopes and smart materials, shape memory materials that exert mechanical stimulus when added to electronic circuits. Wuttig is also an expert on smart materials, but was traveling and unavailable for comment at press time.

The university’s project is one of 43 recipients of grant money from the DOE’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy program, out of more than 500 initial concepts submitted and 164 full grant applications, according to DOE spokesman Jeff Sherwood.

“It’s good to be recognized by DOE,” Takeuchi wrote. “Our idea is entirely new, and it is good that they recognized the value in our new idea.”

The university’s discovery of the new metallic alloy, “is a breakthrough in a sense that they’re proposing a system that is better than one that anyone has had before,” said Briber.

This separated it from the dozens of concepts that were not funded after a review by a panel of experts at DOE.

Grants were awarded July 12 based on “scientific and technical merit and the potential to dramatically advance national energy and economic goals,” according to a press release.

In the past, discussions about alternative cooling systems always involved huge sums of money. With all the more recent focus on solar and other renewable energy sources, though, scientists have been focusing their attentions on the problem.  We reported some months back about a MIT professor who had devised a solar-driven hydrogen power plant, for example.  Now Europe is talking about revisiting a cooling technology, modifying the concept to be fueled by the sun.  Could Europe have the solution to a Green air conditioner?

Like everything, it comes down to dollars (or Euros) and sense.  If the technology is better in some ways but costs twice as much to operate, it’s not going to catch on.  If it costs too much initially, again, it’s going to be left behind.  Let’s take a look at this new Euro concept from Thermodyna.

Based in Hamburg, Germany, Thermodyna has a lofty goal: build a household power plant which will make electricity, heat and and cool the air, and do so whenever you need it to. If they succeed, no air conditioner would be necessary at all. At the heart of the notion is what some have dubbed the “Schukey” motor, a solar-powered cool air machine. The operating cost? 5 cents per kilowatt hour, which is more than half, nearly two-thirds lower than conventional AC units.

According to Thermodyna’s Volker Bergholter, the unit employs just two motors, is driven by the sun, (which heats the water into steam, and from there into the energy that powers the cooling system) and turns damp, warm air into a comfortably climatized 68 degrees F. Sound like a pipe dream? Thermodyna has announced availability as early as 2010. This is all the more important, as experts predict that Europe’s demand for AC will increase at least 10 percent by 2020, a direct result of global warming. The Thermodyna unit would reduce CO2 emissions, and decrease the mid-day demand for electricity. Just when the sun’s rays are hottest, these units would be providing relief from the heat.

It’s not cheap. Right now, the cost is about 1500 Euros ($2490) per kilowatt. But the manufacturer is hoping to slash that by two-thirds within the next decade, and then they’d be even up with conventional technology. Idealists to the end, Bergholter says “In the short term we could bring about a revolution” with the Schukey motor. We tend to agree. What do you think?

Air conditioning in green homes is cause for much debate among green enthusiasts. Certainly, the best way to save energy
on air conditioning is to not have it or use it. But this is just not practical for everyone.

Without a doubt, air conditioning of the past was anything but green. It used very damaging chemicals and consumed large amounts energy for what it produces. Even more efficient units in use today still use lot of energy causing enormous electricity bills in the summer months. Can a system be designed for a green home that uses much less electricity and no damaging chemicals? Yes, indeed.

Size Matters – The first consideration when designing an air conditioning system for your green home is the size of the system. Air conditioning systems should be sized correctly for the space to be cooled, considering the number, location, and type of trees, the number of window, the arrangement of the house, and size of the living space. Care should be taken to right-size the system – it should not be too big or too small. Then we need to look at all the renewable resources we can use to accomplish this.

Cooling from the Earth – For the system to be truly green, renewable resources must be considered. One of the best renewable resources is called geo-thermal. Geo-thermal is literally heating or cooling from the depth of the earth. It is the reason that most caves are the same temperature (around 55F) all year round. We can use this constant temperature of the earth to cool air for air conditioning.

To accomplish geo-thermal cooling, water (or other liquid) is pushed through a tube in the ground buried at an appropriate depth. The water is cooled to the ground temperature. Air is then passed over the tube and the warm room air is transferred to the water in the tube, removing the hot air from the home. The heated water is then pushed back though the tube under the ground and the heat is transferred into the ground effectively cooling the water back to 55 degrees and the process starts all over again.

Clean and Efficient – Using geo-thermal air conditioning is clean and quiet. For systems that do not use forced air to distribute the cool air, there is far less dust and noise.

This system uses much less energy to create cool air for the home than conventional air conditioning and is much better for the environment. This system can also be used to heat the home. The cost of the system and the depth to which the tubes must be buried depends on the part of the world in which you live.

The Solar House: Passive Heating and Cooling

The team, managed by Professor Marcelo Izquierdo from the Department of Thermal Engineering and Fluid Mechanics of the UC3M, who is also a researcher at the Instituto de Ciencias de la Construcción Eduardo Torroja (IETCC) of the CSIC, is building a solar cooling system that unlike the existing machines on the market, uses an improved absorption mechanism capable of producing cold water at a range of temperatures from 7º C to 18º C when the exterior temperature ranges from 33º C to 43º C.

Residential use

Professor Marcelo Izquierdo states that the conclusions reached by a study with a commercial air condensed absorption machine prove that given an outside temperature ranging from 28ºC and 34ºC, the machine can produce cold water at a range of 12 to 16ºC, with a source temperature at the generator between 80ºC to 95ºC. Under these conditions, the cold water produced can be used for climate control applications in houses by combining it with a water-to-air heat exchanger (fan coil).

Quoting Raquel Lizarte, a researcher at the Department of Thermal Engineering and Fluid Mechanics of the UC3M, “There are few absorption machines at a commercial level that are adapted for residential use”, and since it is very hard to go without climate control, it is important to find a cooling technology that has minimal environmental impact. “The machine that we’re studying produces enough cold water to cool down a room of 40 m2 of floor area and with a volume of 120 m3”, she states.

In 2007, 191 countries were involved in the Montreal protocol; a signed agreement to avoid the use of ozone depleting substances such as the HCFC refrigerants used in the air-conditioning industry as well as to set a limit such that by the year 2010 the energy consumption should be just 25% of the level that was allowed in 1996. Also, by the year 2020 all the HCFC refrigerants used in developed countries will have to be replaced with substitutes. This protocol makes research into this kind of technology extremely important for the near future.

The study has been published in the current edition of the magazine Applied Thermal Engineering under the title: ‘Air conditioning using an air-cooled single effect lithium bromide absorption chiller: Results of a trial conducted in Madrid in August 2005’. In this investigation scientists from the Universidad Carlos III of Madrid and Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia have collaborated under the coordination of the Instituto de Ciencias de la Construcción Eduardo Torroja-CSIC.

invested in a central AC or even a window unit.

We prefer to use ‘greener’ methods which are better for the environment. They are better for our health also. They are easier on our gas and electric bills as well. We have, therefore had to research and explore methods for keeping our house cool and comfortable.

If you want or need to keep your home cool with out an air conditioning system, here are several tried and true ‘green’ tips for keeping your home or apartment cool in the summer.

Hang dark colored curtains, mini blinds or Roman shades in each window. Keep these drawn in the warm sunny part of the day.

If a cool breeze is coming in, you can put a fan on the floor to circulate cool air throughout the house. Close the windows and curtains if warm air is coming in.

Windows that face south will get lots of sun. East facing windows will get morning sun. Windows facing west will get the afternoon and evening sun, which is hotter and stronger. Close them as the sun comes in.

Keep lights off as much as possible.

Use florescent lighting which burns cool and is very efficient.

Use ceiling fans and vents and open windows during showers.

Keep the house clean. A house full of junk will be hotter.

Don’t use the oven in the hot part of the day. Use an electric frying pan or microwave for stovetop foods.

Serve cool foods like salads and sandwiches. Hot foods and beverages make you feel warm. Avoid alcohol when it’s warm; it will warm you up.
ine Be sure that your furnace is off.

When doing laundry, turn ceiling vents on and open window to keep warm moist air out. Be sure outside dryer vent is open and clean.

Do laundry in the early morning or late evening.

Use a clothes line instead of dryer, especially for towels and pants.

Invest in some quality fans, one for each window of the house. You don’t need to spend big to get good quality, if you purchase fans made in the USA. You can get a window fan for under $15.

When the three digit temperatures roll in, how can you keep your horses cool through the heat of the summer? Keeping horses cool in the summer can be helped with a few simple tips:

1. Make sure your horses have access to a shaded area and plenty of water. Staying hydrated will help your horse stay cool and is especially important when temperatures are high enough to cause the horses to sweat through the day.

2. If you are concerned your horses may not be drinking enough, consider electrolytes. It is possible for a horse to receive harmful effects of electrolytes so don’t supplement with them unless your horse is in heavy work during the heat, or during the days of summer when your horses are sweating even at rest.

3. In addition to powder electrolytes, you can increase your horse’s water consumption by offering a bucket of flavored gatoraide or soaking your horse’s hay for 30 minutes before feeding.

4. Consider setting up a sprinkler in your pasture during the heat of the day. In the wild, horses will swim in a water source, then climb out to let the water evaporate. The evaporating action helps cool a horse. Setting up a sprinkler in your pasture can help your horse reap the same benefits and is also a great tool for despooking!

5. Consider barn-cooling options to keep your horse cool in the summer. If your horses spend time in a stall or loafing shed, consider fans (ranging from box fan type to overhead fans which can lower a barns temperature up to 15 degrees!) There are also cooling mist systems that can be installed with a garden hose and can lower the temperature of a barn or loafing shed as much as an overhead fan.

Follow these tips on keeping your horse cool in the summer and carefully watch your horses during the hottest days of the summer and your horses will stay safe, comfortable, and cool throughout the summer.

But as Allison Arieff says in the New York Times: “Great. You may be cooler, but now you’re claustrophobic.” She continues: “its execution speaks to a larger issue: a general lack of innovation. Instead of re-imagining what an air conditioner could be (something portable, something that took a different form, something that ran on an alternative energy source), they simply took the existing form and shrank it.”

She concludes with a challenge:

“Home designs that neglect to address things like natural light and ventilation are not contributing to quality of life, let alone reducing heating and cooling costs…. for housing, the challenges are formidable, yet a quick look back to vernacular precedents like shotgun houses that encourage ventilation, and window orientation that encourages passive heating and cooling, would help point things in the right direction.

What is everyone waiting for?”

Indeed. ::New York Times

TreeHugger has been looking for the holy grail of AC, the solar powered air conditioner, for a number of years. It is getting very close to commercial viability; we will be showing a few new units shortly. Here are some past AC innovations that caught our eye:

Some concepts just make sense- like when the developer of a solar powered pontoon boat pointed out-”Since most recreational boating is done when the weather is nice, solar power is particularly well adapted to the task.” We were thinking that way while looking for a solar powered air conditioner- when do you need it? When it is hot and sunny.::Solar Powered Air Conditioning Just Makes Sense

Anybody in North America can understand the need for solar powered air conditioning today- there is so much sun, so much heat and everyone is hiding inside while all of our electric utiilities go into overload. Solar Powered Air Conditioning Getting Real

Now it looks like a Spanish company, Rotartica, has put it all together, by combining evacuated tube thermal collectors with a water-heated absorption chiller, and sized it at 4.5Kw (1.28 tons) for residential use, all packaged in a neat little box. Small-Scale Solar Powered Air Conditioning Is Here

Until central air became common, Florida and Arizona were barely habitable- you went in winter and cleared out. Now 20% of our energy goes to power air conditioning, and it defines the peak loads. 5.5% of our gasoline goes to power our car air conditioning, and four southern states-California, Arizona, Texas and Florida, account for 35% of it. Clearly if we are going to use less energy we have to address this problem. Challenge: Build the Solar Powered Air Conditioner

The approach of warm weather has reminded us of Coolerado Coolers, a low energy air conditioning unit that delivers up to 5 tons of cooling while drawing only 1200 watts, a power load that can easily be handled by a solar installation. It is an evaporative cooler like the desert coolers we have shown before, but unlike most desert coolers, the cool moist air is put through an air-to-air heat exchanger so that the air supplied to the space is cool and dry, which is far more effective at keeping you cool. Coolerado Coolers: Getting Close to Solar Powered Air Conditioning

Every old power plant that can crank out a kilowatt is working overtime, burning coal and gas like mad, shuffling power all over a grid that is on the verge of collapse. Time to look again at a post John did in cooler times a year ago, for an idea whose time has really come. The Ice Bear connects up to a conventional air conditioning system, but uses it to make ice at night when the power is cheap and melts all day to keep you cool. Each unit can take 5 to 10 tons of cooling off the peak load. Ice Bear: Thermal Storage for Cheaper AC

And how could we forget the air conditioner in a can? “Every clothes it cools! New conception! It just sprays from on the clothes instant cooling!” Air Conditioner in a Can from Japan

2. Protect against lightning. Intall a grounded lightning rod system to protect your barn in electrical storms.

3. Try to have both a water supply and a power supply installed outside your barn. Keep a hose attached to your external water supply.

4. Install smoke detectors. Detectors and alarms that sense heat and smoke can save critical time if a fire does start. Make sure you check them regularly (at least twice a year). You may also wish to connect the smoke alarms with a loud, external siren or an alarm that will sound somewhere it can be heard if no one is in the barn.

5. Store hay and combustibles like shavings in a separate building. Some insurance companies require hay to be stored in a separate building, so check with your agent.

6. Make sure that the hay you store is cured properly and that it’s kept dry. Wet hay can start fires through spontaneous combustion.

7. Don’t use extension cords. If you really need to, use an industrial-grade cord and don’t overload it.

8. Check electrical cords for damage, and replace any that may have been chewed by mice or squirrels.

9. Consider installing a sprinkler system. While the initial investment may seem high, check with your insurance agent to see if he or she offers discounts for barns with sprinklers. Some may cut your annual premium by as much as 50 percent.

10. Place fire extinguishers within reach. Place them every 40 feet or consider keeping one at each entrance, in the tack room and near feed storage. Make sure they’re charged and protected from freezing.

11. Keep your barn clean. Dust and cobwebs are fire hazards, as are oily rags and paper towels.

12. Cage all electric light fixtures.

13. Keep a halter and leadrope on every stall door. Consider marking each with glow-in-the-dark paint or reflectors.

14. Ban smoking in your barn (and within 20-30 feet, at least). Post “No Smoking” signs and enforce the ban.

15. Post directions to your barn next to the phone.

16. Keep important numbers where you can find them quickly and have an emergency plan in place — along with a plan for how emergency equipment could access your barn most quickly.

Ask your local fire department to do a walk-through of your barn to point out other fire-prevention steps you can take. If fire does break out, keep your cool — and your priorities:

• Get people of out of your barn.
• Call the fire department.
• Get your horses out if you can do so without risking human lives.
• Use fire extinguishers and/or hoses — but only if you can do so safely.
• Step aside when the fire crew arrives and let the pros handle it.

That all changed in 1992 with Hurricane Andrew. Since then, the state of Florida has required that county governments form an extra emergency support function within their emergency management section to deal specifically with animal disasters.

Hurricane Andrew, Redlands, Florida – 20 miles inland - Photo by John Ehmke
© H.A.A.R.T. Foundation & John Ehmke Photography

Broward and Palm Beach counties have been two of the leaders in this effort. They have animal rescue teams on hand, and have worked with animal experts to spread the word among animal owners about how to prepare for a hurricane, and what to do if one strikes.

The following information deals mostly with horses, but specialized tips are available for dogs, cats, birds, farm animals and exotics as well. Simply contact your county animal disaster team, which is part of your county’s emergency management agency. You can also request information on how these animal rescue teams operate, and what would be expected of you, the owner, in the event of a hurricane.

Vaccinations
The very first thing to do and in many ways the most important is make sure your horse is up-to-date with a tetanus booster and has had a vaccination for encephalitis, commonly known as sleeping sickness. This disease is carried by mosquitoes and the height of infection is July and August, just when storm, hurricane and flood season is at its height.

This disease can kill both humans and horses, and should not be taken lightly. Horses should be vaccinated at least every six months, but most large stables do this every four months. See your personal veterinarian for details.

Neighborhood Disaster Committees
Most horse owners live in horse communities. Contact your neighbors long before hurricane season, and organize your own neighborhood disaster committee. Schedule meetings at which horse owners discuss who has what in the way of equipment, concrete barns, flood areas, etc., and explore ways in which neighbors can help neighbors to accomplish a great deal. Contact your county animal disaster team and they will be glad to help you form such a committee.

Animal Identification
After Hurricane Andrew, 80 % of the horses found carried no identification. This made the job of reuniting animals and owners much more difficult. Veterans of that storm compiled a list of suggestions to help ensure that your animal can be identified in the confusion that follows a hurricane. The following list includes a variety of alternatives from which you can choose:

• Take a picture of your horse with a family member in the photo as well. Then staple a copy of your current Coggins test to the picture with any other information such as tattoos, microchip ID, special scars and any other permanent identification, your local vet’s name and number and any medications your horse may need. Place all these items in a zip-lock bag, and keep them in a safe place where you can get to them after a hurricane.
• Purchase fetlock ID bands and place them on both front feet before a hurricane hits.
• Put a leather halter on your horse with a luggage tag attached showing the horse’s address, phone number and owner’s name and any medication information. Write any special needs on an index card; place this inside a small zip-lock bag, and wrap it around the side of the halter with tape.
• Take a second luggage tag with the same information and braid it into the horse’s tail hair.
  Caution: Do NOT tie the tag around the tail; this would cut off circulation.
• Neck ID bands with the same information can also be used. Check with your local tack store.
• Using small animal clippers, body clip the same phone number your horse’s neck.
• A permanent method of identification is Freeze Branding. For further information on this option, check out: www.horseweb.com/kka
• Do not put a copy of the horse’s Coggins test on the horse. Animal Rescue may not be the ones to find your horse. A coggins test is a passport out of state and, as we learned from Andrew, not everyone is honest.One of the goals of Animal Rescue is to find loose horses and get them reunited with the owners as soon as possible. These suggestions will help tremendously. Remember, you cannot have too much identification with your horse.

Evacuation
If you plan to evacuate in the event of a storm, have a destination and routes thought out well in advance. January, February and March would be good months to do this. Plan to leave 48 hours before the arrival of the storm. The worst thing that can happen to you is to get stuck in traffic with a trailer full of horses and a hurricane approaching. Hurricane Andrew tossed loaded tractor trailers around like they were match sticks.

By the way, if you choose to get out of the area altogether, take all your animals. Don’t take your horse but leave dogs, cats and birds at home alone.

Hurricane Shelter Stabling

Emergency stabling is available on a limited basis. For a listing of stables, please call:

Sunshine State Horse Council – Searchable stable directory
Marion County Animal Care and Control (352) 671-8900
Broward County Animal Care and Control (954) 359-1313
Palm Beach County Are and Control (561) 233-1201

The list of stables may change at any time due to the projected path and size of the approaching storm. Call those stables and find out about availability and any appropriate fees. Do not wait until the last minute to seek emergency stabling!

Preparing for a Hurricane
Regardless of whether you stay or evacuate, start early to clean up your property and remove all debris that may be tossed around by hurricane winds. If you plan to weather the storm at home, here are some guidelines:

• The choice of keeping your horse in a barn or an open field is entirely up to you. Use common sense, taking into consideration barn structure, trees, power lines, and the condition of surrounding properties.
• Remove all items from the barn aisles and walls, and store them in a safe place.
• Have two weeks supply of hay (wrapped in plastic or waterproof tarp) and feed (stored in plastic water-tight containers). Place these supplies in the highest and driest area possible.
• Take two plywood boards and spray paint on one side of each board, “HAVE ANIMALS, NEED HELP.” On the other side of each board paint, “HAVE ANIMALS, AM OK FOR NOW.” Put both plywood boards with your feed supply.
• Fill clean plastic garbage cans with water, secure the tops, and place them in the barn.
• Prepare an emergency animal care kit (waterproof) with all the items you normally use: medications, salves, ointments, vetwraps, bandages, tape, etc. Place the kit in a safe place where you can get to it after a storm.
• Have an emergency barn kit containing a chain saw and fuel, hammers, a saw, nails, screws and fencing materials. Place this kit in a secure area before the storm hits.
• Have an ample supply of flashlights and batteries, and at least one battery-operated radio.
• Using camper tie-downs, secure all vehicles, trailers and maintenance equipment.
• Notify neighbors where you will be during the storm.
• Before leaving the barn, attach identification to all horses.
• Turn off circuit breakers to the barn before leaving. A power surge could cause sparks and fire.
• Do not stay in the barn with your horse during the storm.
• Place a supply of water and hay with each horse.

Remember, trees could be down blocking roads, and you may not be able to return to the barn immediately following the storm. Leave two buckets of water in your horse’s stall.