ES online - Polling Data - Statistical Data Included

Engineered Systems, Oct, 1999

AUGUST SURVEY WINNERS: SYSTEM INTEGRATION, FUEL CELLS, 10 READERS

In the spirit of our "Commercial Buildings in the 21st Century" article in the August issue of ES, that month's online survey asked you to register your own opinions about trends, technologies, and practices that seem to be gaining momentum as the new century approaches. Many of you did, and here are the interesting results.

1. Which alternate energy tactic has the best chance of catching on in the next decade of hvacr design?

60% - Fuel cells

20% - Thermal storage

12% - Photovoltaics

8% - Wind energy

2. How many tax dollars should the government spend in public/private hvacr research ventures?

68% - More

20% - Same

12% - Less

3. Would you have any hesitance in selecting a triple-effect chiller when it reaches the market?

56% - No

44% - Yes

4. Which of the five areas targeted for research by ARTI's "21-CR" program has the most potential?

28% - System integration

24% - IAQ

20% - Environmentally friendly working fluids

16% - Alternative equipment

12% - High-efficiency equipment

Thanks to everyone who contributed to the month's large number of reader replies. As always, free, limited-edition ES mousepads went to the first 10 readers to visit us at www.esmagazine.com and participate.

The lucky winners were: John R. Kominsky (Cincinnati); Kevin T. Shaw (Milford, MA); John L. Imburgia (Buffalo Grove, IL); Rick Neuer (Overland Park, KS); Joe Aragona (Oklahoma City); Stan King (Richmond, VA); Mark W. Tesar (St. Louis); Edward J. Godorov (Glenside, PA); Thomas J. McGeachen (East Windsor, NJ); and Harold Crowder (Glen Alien, VA).

This month's online survey is up and waiting for you right now, so point your browser to ES Online, follow the survey icon, and click away!

ACCIDENTS WILL HAPPEN (AND SOMETIMES THEY HELP)

Contrary to the popular saying, sometimes an accident is the mother of invention. For example, Teflon was discovered by chance, when chemists at DuPont inadvertently mixed the wrong chemicals in a reactor vessel.

Inventor Carmine Vasile is the benefactor of another such event. The result: what author Daniel Karpen says is an extremely effective method of heat recovery from waste hot gray water. According to Karpen, Vasile's discovery -- the GFX heat exchanger -- is something every engineer should know about.

WANTED: QUALITY PROJECTS FROM THE LONE STAR STATE

Find out more about the genesis and impact of the GFX heat exchanger for yourself all this month, just by visiting ES Online and reading October's Editorial Exclusive.

With the ASHRAE 2000 Winter Meeting and the 2000 International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Exposition taking place in Dallas in February, Engineered Systems is planning a Texas themed issue for February as big as the state itself. We are trying to nail down Texas' top hvacr projects. Do you know about a new construction project from Texas that deserves to be in our pages? Is there a retrofit from the republic that our readers would enjoy learning about? It's a big state, and it's definitely a hotbed (no pun intended) of hvacr activity, so point us to a story that deserves attention.

If you know a good candidate for a feature article or Case In Point for our February 2000 issue, contact ES associate editor Robert Beverly before Nov. 15, 1999. Write him at 755 W. Big Beaver Rd., Suite 1000, Tiny, MI, 48084. You can also reach him by fax, 248-362-0317. Or, e-mail him at beverlyr@bnp.com.

Y'all write back now, you hear?

YOU BETTER SHOP AROUND

Just like the Supremes (and your mother) might've told you, it's always good to keep up on the latest equipment to hit the market. ES Online gives you two ways to do exactly that.

The first way is to check out our Products section. Complete with descriptions and graphics, it allows you to get the scoop on new offerings each month, as well as to make specific inquiries for more info.

The second avenue is our Manufacturers section. Updated monthly, this thorough listing provides you with a comprehensive collection of manufacturer e-mail and website addresses. From there, you can go directly to their sites, find out more about companies and their products, and do your job that much better.