Saturday February 03, 2007

Honda engine helps heat homes

news.com.com :

Climate Energy was formed in the year 2000 to bring "micro-combined heat and power," or micro-CHP, to consumers in the U.S. Combined heat and power systems, already available for industry and large buildings, are designed to harvest what is normally wasted heat during the process of power generation.

Climate Energy's system is designed around a Honda internal combustion engine that burns natural gas to generate electricity. A heat exchanger feeds any captured heat to a furnace, which then distributes the hot air. Customers who have been beta testing the system in Massachusetts end up with comparatively tiny electric charges of a few dollars in winter months. That's because the power generated in their homes - about 1.2 kilowatts - offsets their monthly, grid-delivered electricity and is subtracted from their bill. If the power produced exceeds the electrical needs at a given moment, the meter runs backward as power is fed back onto the grid.

Climate Energy is also hoping to tap into growing environmental concerns. Combined heat and power systems are very efficient; about 90% of the energy is utilized either in heat or electricity. Local power generation also gives people a back-up system. And an Internet connection allows for remote maintenance and diagnostics. Later this year, the company plans to release a version that warms up water, rather than air, for heating.

- As with the plane, Honda enthusiasts might want to know : does it come with VTEC? :)

(2007-02-03 16:25:06 SGT) [Energy] Permalink

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