Retool the Cool
May 26th, 2008Central California-If you live out west away from the coast line you know hot, especially in August. Hot has a cost. Energy use and energy bills soar in the boiler room days of summer. The hum of air conditioning units across the landscape is the sound of money evaporating in the searing summer heat. Enter modern technology and the search for more efficient cooling.
The OASys or Outdoor Air Sys-tem is a developing option in the world of cooling. The trade marked name is obviously trying to provide an oasis from current cooling practices. One designer out west, Marlin Alvis of Alvis Projects believes in the virtues of this system. According to Alvis OASys uses less power and boasts a better water cooling system than old-school evaporating cooler concepts. Alvis cites an 80% reduction in energy costs as a reason to consider the cooling unit. Also there’s an overnight cool setting that keeps air circulating in the household. More outdoor air comes in with the OASys and developers suggest the indoor environment is greatly improved. Tests show it is definitely not the drier forced air environment that is currently the standard. Numerous studies and research projects on the OASys give the old-new technology the green thumbs up in many ways, including findings by the Emerging Technologies Coordinating Council or ETCC.
There are many inefficient older AC units out west and home owners are looking to replace the old-cold with something new and more cost effective. Estimated costs for AC changes on the average home range from $3,000 to $10,000 depending on AC units and the space being cooled. According to Alvis the OASys falls some where in the middle of that range. OASys is a continuing project of the Speakman Company of Delaware.