» Mondre Energy, Inc. Lowers Electricity Costs for Diocese of Scranton
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Mondre Energy, Inc. (MEI), a leading energy strategies firm based in Philadelphia, will save the Diocese of Scranton on average more than 14 percent in electricity costs over the next two years.  The savings cover approximately 240 separate electricity accou

» Airgas: Refrigerants
Airgas Refrigerants Inc. is a leading refrigerant solutions supplier, delivering comprehensive refrigerant supply, reclamation, and related services nationwide.

» ASHRAE Standard Provides Guidance for DOE Federal Standard
ASHRAE Standard Provides Guidance for DOE Federal Standard

ATLANTA?Savings over the next 30 years from a proposed federal standard for vending machines could equal that of the energy consumed by more than 830,000 American households in a single year.

The federal standard issued by the U.S. Department of Energy is based on ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 32.1-2004, Methods of Testing for Rating Vending Machines for Bottled, Canned and Other Sealed Beverages, which establishes uniform testing of refrigerated vending machines to determine energy consumption. The DOE issued its ruling on Aug. 31, 2009 via the Federal Register.

?As a technical organization with interests in both refrigeration and reducing energy use, we are pleased that DOE and the beverage industry look to ASHRAE as the source for standards in this critical area,? Gordon Holness, ASHRAE president, said. ?We look forward to continued work with the Department and the relevant stakeholders to develop standards that meet the needs of the nation and the world.?

Given that refrigerated vending machines consume 2,500 to 4,400 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of energy per year, DOE is adopting new energy conservation standards, finding that such standards ?would result in significant conservation of energy and are technologically feasible and economically justified.?

By 2042, DOE expects the energy savings to result in cumulative greenhouse gas emission reductions of 0.6 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, an amount equal to that produced by 2 million cars every year.
Fully-cooled medium capacity vending machines, the most common type currently being sold, cost $2,625 with annual energy costs of $188. To meet the new standards, the DOE estimates the installed prices of such equipment will increase by $239 to $2,864, which will be offset by annual energy savings of $69.

Though DOE utilized the testing methods laid out in ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 32.1-2004, the department employed a test point of 75°F/45 RH rather than the 90°F/65 RH specified in the Standard. Also, DOE will take into consideration the fact that ASHRAE is currently updating Standard 32.1-2004 and will consider any changes that may result from the update.

The standards will apply to all beverage vending machines manufactured for sale in the U.S. or imported to the U.S., starting three years after publication of the final rule.

ASHRAE, founded in 1894, is an international organization of some 50,000 persons. ASHRAE fulfills its mission of advancing heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration to serve humanity and promote a sustainable world through research, standards writing, publishing and continuing education.

» ASHRAE, UNEP Further Work in Protecting the Ozone
ASHRAE, UNEP Further Work in Protecting the Ozone

October 28, 2009, ATLANTA?ASHRAE and the United Nations Environment Programme have launched a joint program of work in order to reduce emissions and encourage energy-efficient refrigeration and air conditioning systems and building designs.

The First Annual Cooperation Work Plan between ASHRAE and UNEP, an organization that promotes the wise use and sustainable development of the global environment, was presented on October 5, 2009 at the Region-at-Large Chapter Regional Conference in Kuwait. The program of work sets goals and timelines for phasing out ozone-depleting refrigerants and the management of ozone-depleting substance refrigerant banks, to name just a few.

One of the ways ASHRAE will support the established goals is by providing Distinguished Lecturers to present the latest achievements in non-Ozone depleting refrigeration technology to both ASHRAE chapters and technical activities organized by UNEP. ASHRAE will also support an ozone literacy course developed by UNEP.

?By partnering with UNEP, ASHRAE can more efficiently respond to the growing demand for new technologies that do not contribute to ozone depletion and are energy efficient,? Gordon Holness, ASHRAE president, said. ?Through collaboration, continuing education and provision of experts on the topic, ASHRAE, UNEP and the global community can look forward a healthier environment.?

The program of work is the result of a memorandum of understanding signed between ASHRAE and UNEP in June of 2007.
UNEP was formed in 1972 and acts as ?the voice for the environment within the United Nations system.? The Programme works with a wide range of partners to asses global, national and regional environmental conditions and trends; strengthen institutions for the wise management of the environment; and facilitate the transfer of knowledge and technology for sustainable development.

ASHRAE, founded in 1894, is an international organization of some 50,000 persons. ASHRAE fulfills its mission of advancing heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration to serve humanity and promote a sustainable world through research, standards writing, publishing and continuing education.

» Exhausto Inc.: In-Line Draft Inducers
Patent-pending in-line draft inducer, the IPVB power venter, is a line of true inline fans, says the company. It can be installed in a vertical or horizontal stack section. They are available in four sizes with capacities up to almost 6,000 cfm. The inducers can be installed indoors as well as outdoors.

» Solar Energy on the Rise in U.S.
BOSTON, Feb. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- With solar electricity generating more than one terawatt-hour (one billion kilowatt hours) of electricity in the United States in 2010 and continuing to expand rapidly, the key question is, "How can companies best capture value as the industry grows?", according to Mic

» ESCO Technologies Management Will Present at the Deutsche Bank 2010 Small and Mid Cap Conference
ST. LOUIS, Feb. 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ESCO Technologies Inc. (NYSE: ESE) announced today that Vic Richey, Chairman and CEO, will make a Company presentation on Wednesday, February 10, at the Deutsche Bank 2010 Small and Mid Cap Conference in Naples, FL.  The presentation will highlight th

» Craton Equity Partners Invests in Petra Solar
LOS ANGELES, Feb. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Craton Equity Partners, a leading California clean technology fund, has made a $15 million investment commitment to Petra Solar, a clean energy technology company that provides solar and smart grid solutions for utilities. Petra Solar's core technology is the SunW