Innovation Spotlight: Building Integrated Heat and Moisture Exchange (BIHME) Pilot Demonstration

January 03, 2013 04:02 PM EST By: Regina Ramazzini

TechConnect Innovation Tracker: Architectural Applications (a2), a TechConnect Accelerator participant-Asia Pacific Clean Energy Summit, Honolulu, HI, 2012

TechConnect News recently spoke with John Breshears, President at Architectural Applications (a2) about their building air conditioning efficiency technology. Mr. Breshears discussed the development of their air conditioning systems that is especially effective in humid climates. As typical of a disruptive technology, the substantial improvements over many current technologies are impeded by barriers to entry, such as changes to the ventilation air pathways common in commercial buildings today.

a2 has demonstrated the technology with promising results at a laboratory bench-top scale (Technology Readiness Level 4) with funding form the US Department of Energy’s ARPA-E program. The company recently started a $1.1 million STTR Phase II grant with the Department of Energy that will take them to a TRL 6 or 7 in the next 18-24 months.  a2’s research and development team includes Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Membrane Technology & Research Inc., Arup, and dPoint Technologies. a2 was also a finalist in the 2012 NOVA Innovation Competition.

As a finalist in the Project Finance Challenge at this year’s Asia Pacific Clean Energy Summit in Honolulu, HI, a2 had the opportunity to present the technology and its benefits to a group of interested investors working in the humid climates of that region.  Mr. Breshears spoke to us about his experience with the PFC and said, “The PFC was a fantastic event that pulled together people willing and interested in possibly investing and matching technologies to products.  It was a wonderful thing. “

For further information about the company, please visit their website at:
www.architecturalapplications.com.

Or watch a video about a2’s technology:
http://www.novainnovationcompetition2012.com/Competition-Overview/The-Finalists/.

 

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