Coca-Cola North America, Atlanta, Ga., is field testing a revolutionary fountain beverage dispenser that can provide an unprecedented variety of beverages. Designed for restaurants and quick-serve operations, the Coca-Coca Freestyle machine can dispense more than 100 different Coca-Cola branded beverages, including sparkling beverages, juices, sports drinks, teas, and flavored waters. The freestanding unit accomplishes this feat while occupying roughly the same footprint as the standard six-valve or eight-valve fountain dispensers widely used now.

Instead of using the large bags of syrup found in a conventional dispenser, the Coca-Cola Freestyle uses concentrated ingredients stored in flavor cartridges, which are conceptually similar to ink-jet printer cartridges. Using micro-dosing technology similar to that found in medical equipment, the cartridges inject the specified flavor concentrates into the water stream in a specified amount. Some cartridges might be used for more than one beverage. For example, a cartridge containing a cherry concentrate might be used for a Cherry Coke, a Cherry Sprite, etc.

There are only three tubes in the machine: the primary tube for the base water stream, a tube for injecting carbon dioxide for carbonated drinks, and a tube for injecting a high-fructose corn syrup for sweetening.

The entire process is computer-controlled using software developed in collaboration with Bsquare Corp., Bellevue, Wash. User selections are made via a 15.1-in. touchscreen that incorporates Zybrid Projected Capacitive Technology supplied by Zytronic, Blaydon, U.K.

The unique beverage dispenser also contains communication networking capability and makes innovative use of RFID technology, a combination that provides a number of useful management options. Each flavor cartridge contains its own unique RFID tag that can be read by multiple RFID interrogators within the machine. This allows Coca-Cola to remotely monitor product sales and inventory of each machine, and remotely change a dispensing formula, remotely block the machine’s access to a recalled cartridge, while also preventing the installation of counterfeit cartridges, and ensuring that the service technician has installed the right cartridges in the proper locations.

The company planned on having from 50 to 60 of the Freestyle machines at Beta test sites by the end of summer. Location test areas include Southern California, Atlanta, and Salt Lake City, Utah. The company won’t make a decision on wider rollout until it has analyzed its test results.

ECODESIGN REGULATIONS
The European Commission, Brussels, Belgium, has adopted four ecodesign regulations to improve the energy efficiency of industrial motors, circulators, televisions, refrigerators, and freezers. The regulations lay down energy efficiency requirements that will save about 190 TWh per year by 2020, which is comparable to the combined annual electricity consumption of Sweden and Austria. The regulation on motors sets energy performance requirements for most of the electric motors used in industrial applications, and is expected to foster the use of variable-speed drives. The energy savings triggered by the motor regulation are about 135 TWh per year by 2020. The regulation on circulators is expected to shift the market to intelligent, high-efficiency circulators capable of adjusting their performance to the needs of the heating system. Circulators can be found in almost every European building’s boiler or heating system, and the electricity savings are expected to be about 25 TWh per year by 2020. The two regulations on televisions and refrigerators/freezers are expected to leave only efficient products on the market. The expected annual electricity savings by 2020 are about 30 TWh. In total, nine ecodesign regulations have now been put in place, which are expected to save about 315 TWh worth of electricity per year by 2020 if fully implemented. This is more than the annual electricity consumption of Italy.

HOME-TO-GRID SPECS
U-SNAP Alliance, Morgan Hill, Calif., a group working to create a low-cost connector standard to enable consumer products to communicate with any vendor’s smart meter, has released its first specification for product developers. The utility smart access port (U-SNAP) bus specification provides manufacturers with guidelines on how to create U-SNAP-compliant interfaces to accommodate radios for several popular wireless standards including ZigBee, Z-Wave, Wi-FI, FM, and FlexNet.

WHIRLPOOL JOINT VENTURE
Whirlpool Corp., Benton Harbor, Mich., and Hisense Kelon, Shunde, China, a Chinese electronics and home appliance company, have inaugurated a joint venture manufacturing facility, which will produce refrigerators and washing machines for the Chinese and export markets. In April 2008, Whirlpool and Hisense Kelon formed a 50-50 joint venture located in the ChangXing Economic Development Zone in Huzhou in the ZheJiang Province. The company will manufacture high-end, multi-door refrigerators, as well as top-load and front-load washers under the Whirlpool, Hisense, and Rongsheng brands

Ecocool ERX cooler.

GREEN COOLERS
Provider of commercial refrigeration equipment Frigoglass, Patras, Peloponnese, Greece, has launched the Ecocool line of environmentally friendly coolers. The line makes use of natural refrigerants R744, R290, or R600a and consumes up to 50 percent less energy than equivalent units produced 10 years ago. The line also uses HFC-free insulation and has an intelligent energy-management system.

FEAR OVER FUEL
The Alliance for a Safe Alternative Fuels Environment (AllSAFE), Alexandria, Va., has voiced concern to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Washington, D.C., regarding Growth Energy’s fuel waiver application for E-15. AllSAFE also addressed concerns over the EPA’s expansion of the waiver request to include bifurcating the fuel supply, or allowing two fuels (E-10 and E-15) in the marketplace at one time. AllSAFE states the E-15 has not been sufficiently tested and could be hazardous for consumers.

ENERGY ANALYSIS
The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), Palo Alto, Calif., has found that replacing some fossil-fuel end-use technologies with efficient electric ones in residential, commercial, and industrial applications has the potential energy savings of 71.7 quadrillion BTUs, and could result in cumulative CO2 reductions of 4,400 million tons between 2009 and 2030. The study accounts for market-driven efficiency improvements, the impact of federally mandated appliance standards and building codes, and rulemaking procedures. It envisions a relatively flat price for electricity in real dollars between 2008 and 2030, and continued contributions of existing utility- and government-sponsored end-use energy programs established before 2008. The analysis found two key mechanisms for saving energy and reducing CO2 emissions with electric end-use technologies: upgrading existing electric technologies with demand response measures, such as replacing or retrofitting older equipment with new energy efficient technologies, and expansion of end-use applications of electricity that involves replacing less efficient fossil-fueled end-use technologies with more efficient electric end-use ones.

Luxeon Rebel amber LED.

BRIGHTER AMBER LEDS
LED manufacturer Philips Lumileds, San Jose, Calif., has announced the availability of its Luxeon Rebel phosphor converted amber LED. Users will see two to five times more light output and less color shift compared to typical amber LEDs. The LEDs deliver typical flux of 70 lumens at 350 mA.

ASHRAE MODIFIES STANDARD
In a time when the U.S. economic stimulus plan is emphasizing retrofitting commercial and residential buildings, ASHRAE, Atlanta, Ga., has approved a change to its residential ventilation standard to encourage home retrofits to improve indoor air quality. Addendum e to ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 62.2-2007, Ventilation and Acceptable Indoor Air Quality in Low-Rise Residential Buildings, allows alternative methods for meeting the standard’s requirements regarding kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans. The standard currently requires fans in those rooms.

POWER TOOL FORECAST
“World Power Tools,” a study from research firm the Freedonia Group, Cleveland, Ohio, states that global demand for power tools is forecast to rise 3.7 percent per year through 2013, approaching $29 billion. The study states that demand in China and India will rise more than 6 percent per annum. Gains in Russia and Brazil will exceed the global average. The study also says that power tool production is expected to continue to shift to Asia, largely driven by Chinese manufacturing. China is expected to account for one-third of global shipments by 2013. The study also says that electric tools will continue to compose the vast majority of sales because of their frequent use in both consumer and professional applications.

Touch Revolution touchscreen.

ANDROID WITHIN
The Android mobile operating system developed by Google will show up inside devices within the home before year’s end, according to Touch Revolution, San Francisco, which makes touchscreen devices. Smart phones, home automation controls, and remote controls for media are among the targeted devices, which will feature touchscreens in various sizes. Touch Revolution will provide the touchscreen module containing the Android platform, while other partner companies handle the hardware and product rollout.

ENERGY STAR HOMES
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Washington, D.C., has announced that nearly 17 percent of all single-family homes built nationally in 2008 earned its Energy Star label, up from 12 percent in 2007. Nearly 940,000 Energy Star qualified homes have been built to date, with more than 100,000 of these constructed in 2008.

DEMAND RESPONSE APPLIANCES
Tendril, Boulder, Colo., and GE Consumer & Industrial, Louisville, Ky., have signed a joint development agreement to further enhance the communication capabilities of GE’s demand response appliances. Tendril, the creator of Tendril Residential Energy Ecosysystem (TREE), and GE will develop an integrated and interoperable system that will enhance GE’s demand responsive appliances capability to communicate over metering and broadband networks. TREE is comprised of the TREE platform, an open, extensible, and standards-based operating environment for energy management; TREE energy programs, a suite of energy management applications; and TREE home energy devices, a suite of in-home hardware. TREE is designed to integrate seamlessly with a utility’s or energy retailer’s existing back office applications and network infrastructure, allowing consumers and energy companies to communicate.

MEDICAL ROBOT
Electronics manufacturer Panasonic, Tokyo, Japan, has developed a robot that dispenses drugs to patients. The company will sell the robot to Japanese hospitals next March and will market it in the U.S. and Europe at a later time. Panasonic is targeting robot production as a growth area in light of weak demand and price falls afflicting its consumer electronics division. The company aims for $315 million in annual medical robot sales in seven years.

LG REORGANIZING
LG Electronics, Seoul, South Korea, manufacturer of consumer electronics, mobile communications, and home appliances, is planning to reorganize manufacturing plants and expand investments in Mexico. The company will invest an additional $100 million during the next three years, increasing total production capacity to $4 billion. The company operates three manufacturing facilities in Mexico: Reynosa and Mexicali, which produce TVs, and Monterrey, which makes refrigerators and electric ovens. Among other moves, the company will consolidate LCD TV manufacturing at the Reynosa plant by September 2009, and outsource the manufacture of small- and medium-sized LCD TVs to an external partner in Mexico.

MABE IN BRAZIL
Mexican home appliance maker Mabe, Sao Paulo, Mexico, has agreed to acquire the Brazilian unit of BSH Bosch, Munich, Germany. Under the acquisition agreement, Mabe will produce Bosch appliances under a franchise for a limited time and will distribute imported products from Bosch.

NEW CSA IDENTITY
CSA America, Cleveland, Ohio, developer of standards, codes, and personnel certification programs, has announced its new CSA Standards corporate identity, which includes a new corporate logo. Effective immediately, CSA America, will adopt the new CSA Standards corporate identity so that all international standards development offices operated by CSA Standards are unified under a single brand that is identifiable by stakeholders, the public, and media anywhere in the world.

SEARS SOCIAL NETWORK
Sears Holding Corp., Hoffman Estates, Ill., has announced the launch of its open ID platform for Sears Communities, which will connect more than a million monthly visitors via MySears and MyKmart Web sites to social media. The open ID universal login standard enables visitors to consolidate their Internet identity by providing a single login for all online interactions. The company says this is a first step toward enabling customers to log in to Sears communities using their social IDs rather than set up new accounts. This covers Web sites such as Google, Facebook, MySpace, Yahoo!, and Twitter.

VRF STANDARD APPROVED
The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI), Arlington, Va., has approved AHRI Standard 1230, Performance Rating of Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) Multi-Split Air-Conditioning and Heat Pump Equipment. The standard applies to matched variable refrigerant flow multi-split air-conditioners and multi-split heat pumps using distributed refrigerant technology with cooling and heating capacities for outdoor units from 12,000 Btu/h to 300,000 Btu/h and indoor units from 5,000 Btu/h to 60,000 Btu/h.

FM APPLIANCE COMMUNICATION
e-Radio, Los Altos, Calif., has launched its Utility Message Channel, which allows utilities, energy retailers, and government agencies to send alerts, messages, and commands to smart grid-enabled devices and consumer appliances, instructing them to reduce energy consumption and operate more efficiently. The notifications are sent to the home-based appliance through FM radio signals across a municipality or utility service area.

Saeco Talea Ring Plus automatic.

PHILIPS ACQUIRES SAECO
Royal Philips Electronics, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, has closed the acquisition of Saeco International Group S.p.A., Bologna, Italy, an espresso machine maker. The espresso machine segment is generally regarded as the most valuable market space within the global coffee appliances market, as it typically achieves double-digit sales growth and profit margins.

LOW-HALOGEN DEFINITION
The International Electronics Manufacturing Initiative (iNEMI), Herndon, Va., an industry-led consortium, has released a position statement that defines “low-halogen” (BFR/CFR/PVC-free) for electronic products. iNEMI members supporting the statement include Cisco, Dell, Doosan Corp., HP, Intel Corp., Lenovo, Nan Ya Plastics Corp., Senju Comtek Corp., Sun Microsystems, and Tyco Electronics Ltd. For PCBs and substrate laminates, iNEMI members define “low halogen” as containing no more than 1,500 ppm of total halogens in the resin plus reinforcement matrix, and no more than 900 ppm (each) of bromine or chlorine (per IPC-4101). For components, each plastic in the component should contain less than 1,000 ppm of bromine if the source is from brominated flame retardants (BFRs), and less than 1,000 ppm of chlorine if the source is from chlorinated flame retardants (CFRs), PVC, or PVC copolymers.

AHRI CERTIFICATION RULE
The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI), Arlington, Va., has announced that coil-only ratings in the AHRI Directory of Certified Product Performance will be limited to coil-only ratings developed from system manufacturers’ highest sales volume tested combinations (HSVTC) and cannot be more than 6 percent greater than the HSVTC ratings. Mix-match coil-blower combinations will be delisted unless the manufacturer listing the system either manufactures the coil-blower unit or the system is rated no more than 6 percent greater than the specified system manufacturers’ certified combinations ratings. These changes will remain in effect until the Unitary Small Equipment Section revises its operations manual.

RECOVERY ACT REBATES
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Washington, D.C., has announced the availability of nearly $300 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for state-run rebate programs for consumer purchases of new Energy Star-qualified home appliances. The new funding will be awarded to states and territories through their energy offices, using a formula set forth in the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Each state or territory is required to submit a plan that specifies which Energy Star appliance categories will be included in their rebate program, the rebate level for each product type, how the rebates will be processed, and their plan for recycling old appliances.

SOLAR WATER HEATING
Solar thermal technology provider EnerWorks, Dorchester, Ontario, has announced its Focus solar water heating appliances. The Focus line includes residential and commercial water-based appliances that offer a direct and efficient way to heat water in climates in which there is no risk of freezing. Rather than a freeze-protected fluid, potable water runs through the roof- or rack-mounted collectors, directly absorbing heat from the sun.

NET ZERO HOMES
GE, Louisville, Ky., has announced that by 2015 it plans to have a turn-key product portfolio that will empower consumers to build — both new home builders and existing homeowners — to efficiently consume, manage, and generate electricity for overall net zero annual energy. In addition to GE’s current portfolio of energy-efficient lighting and appliance products and demand response technology it is currently developing, the company plans to develop residential power generation products, such as solar PV and residential wind products

Toshiba Stainless Style TV/DVD combo.

STAINLESS STYLE TV
Toshiba America Consumer Products, Wayne, N.J., has introduced its Stainless Style LCD TV/DVD unit, which was designed for kitchen countertop use. The metallic appearance of the housing was designed to blend in with stainless-steel kitchen appliances. The unit is Energy Star compliant and has a 19-in., high-definition, widescreen display.

VOLUNTARY STANDARDS
The U.S. voluntary standards system is spurring the development of emerging technologies such as smart grid, healthcare IT, and cyber security, according to the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), Washington, D.C. NAM and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Trade Administration hosted an event in July on the subject, with nearly 100 leaders from government and a wide range of industry and trade associations gathered to address the importance of the U.S. voluntary standards system and the crucial role it plays in America’s ability to be globally competitive.

Savings From Standards Projected

Strong new national appliance standards for 26 common household and business products planned during President Obama’s current term could slash total U.S. electricity use by more than 1,900 terawatt-hours (1.9 trillion kilowatt-hours) cumulatively by 2030 while saving consumers and businesses over $123 billion, according to a report released in July by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) and the Appliance Standards Awareness Project (ASAP). The groups added that new standards also could make a big contribution to U.S. efforts to cut global warming carbon dioxide pollution, eliminating 158 million tons per year by 2030, roughly the amount emitted by 63 large conventional coal-fired power plants.

The new standards will affect many common household and business products — ranging from furnaces to water heaters to air conditioners to fluorescent light bulbs. In many cases, standards first set in the 1980s or 1990s are due to be updated and can now be strengthened thanks to technological improvements. Cumulative savings from already existing standards total about $2,800 per household; savings from new standards due in the next few years could save an additional $1,100 per household over the life of the affected products.

The effort to combat climate change will also get a considerable boost from standards. According to the report, existing standards will reduce global warming carbon dioxide emissions by about 6.5 percent by 2020 and 7.5 percent by 2030. New standards analyzed in the report would add 1.3 percent and 2.6 percent savings in 2020 and 2030, respectively. Combined, the total carbon dioxide savings from current and future standards are roughly equal to the output of 185 conventional coal-fired power plants in 2020, growing to nearly 250 coal plants by 2030.

About half the total energy savings would come from new standards for fluorescent lights, water heaters, home furnaces, furnace fans, and refrigerators.

Individual consumers stand to benefit considerably from strengthened standards. For the 26 products reviewed in the report, the average payback is 3.1 years, with an average benefit-cost ratio of 4 to 1. That is, the lifetime savings of a product are, on average, four times greater than the upfront incremental costs for efficiency improvements.