Re: New Research is a Breath of Fresh Air for Heating and Air Conditioning Units

July 23, 2009

Thanks for this, KC. I FWD to some HVAC experts I know for

their opinion.

Carl Grimes

Healthy Habitats LLC

-----

>

> Photos: New Research is a Breath of Fresh Air for Heating and Air Conditioning

Units

>

> Copper may increase heating and air conditioning efficiency and prevent odors.

(PRNewsFoto/Copper

> Development Association)

>

> NEW YORK, NY UNITED STATES

>

> http://news.prnewswire.com/DisplayReleaseContent.

aspx?ACCT=104 & STORY=/www/story/07-22-

> 2009/0005064323 & EDATE=

>

> Antimicrobial components being tested for increased efficiency and odor

prevention

>

> NEW YORK, July 22 /PRNewswire/ -- If you turn on your car air conditioner on a

hot summer day and are

> overwhelmed by the smell of mildew, it is because mold is growing in the air

conditioner unit. The same

> phenomenon occurs on a larger scale in the heating and air conditioning (HVAC)

units of buildings. HVAC

> units provide dark, moist environments -- perfect breeding grounds for the

bacteria and fungi that are

> associated with foul odors and decreased efficiency. To combat this

phenomenon, the U.S. Department of

> Defense is funding research into antimicrobial copper components that can

control the growth of organisms

> that grow in HVAC units. The units are installed at the military barracks at

Fort in Columbia, SC.

>

> To view the Multimedia News Release, go to: http://www.prnewswi

re.com/mnr/copper/39264

>

> (Photo: http://www.newscom. com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090722/NY50158 )

>

> ley, Ph.D., Professor of Environmental Health Sciences at the

University of South Carolina, and

> principal investigator for the study, explained the need for this research,

" Improvements in building and

> construction methods have generally led to increased energy efficiency, but at

the same time, these 'tighter'

> building envelopes tend to trap bacteria, leading to odors. The results of

this real-world trial should

> encourage advancements in the design of HVAC systems. "

>

> The Ft. trial is comparing the ability of antimicrobial copper HVAC

components with the more

> commonly used aluminum components in controlling the growth of odor-causing

bacteria and fungi in

> HVAC units. Components being replaced with copper are those in which microbial

contaminants tend to

> thrive -- cooling coils, heat exchange fins and drip pans. The trial is

designed to test the effectiveness of

> copper surfaces in inhibiting the growth of microbes which are not only the

source of foul odors, but can also

> build up on heat transfer surfaces and compromise the thermal efficiency of

the unit. In addition to being

> antimicrobial, the copper elements are highly recyclable and are better

thermal conductors than their

> aluminum counterparts.

>

> In conjunction with the real-world field trial at Ft. , a controlled

laboratory study is taking place at

> the University of South Carolina in the Arnold School of Public Health.

>

> In addition to the trials, the Copper Development Association is pursuing U.S.

Environmental Protection

> Agency (EPA) registration of copper alloys for use in protecting HVAC

components.

>

> The copper cooling coils, heat exchange fins and drip pans were manufactured

by Luvata, a leading metal

> fabrication and component manufacturing company.

>

> About Copper Development Association Inc.

>

> The Copper Development Association is the information, education, marketing

and technical development

> arm of the copper, brass and bronze industries in the USA.

>

> SOURCE Copper Development Association

>

July 24, 2009

I did the same...

I am hopeful on this one...

Thanks y'all

Freedom is the emancipation from the arbitrary rule of other men :Mortimer

Adler

From: Carl E. Grimes <grimes@...>

Subject: Re: [] New Research is a Breath of Fresh Air for Heating

and Air Conditioning Units

Date: Thursday, July 23, 2009, 12:34 PM