September
Our Karges Furniture project is the winner of 29th Annual Energy Efficient Building Awards" for excellence and innovation in energy efficiency and building management. Karges Furniture produces high-end furniture ( www.karges.com ). Project goal was to design highest efficient dust collecting system; Karges furniture is produced "by-hand" (mainly by carving), i.e. wood working machinery is used for less than 10% of operating time. Classically designed dust collecting will create enormous consumption of electricity, energy peaks at startup, and high noise levels. Together with Koger-Air we designed "on-demand dust collecting system", with auto-start, auto-stop functions, and with high efficiency motors. Classical industrial dust collecting design will create system for air-volume 98,626 CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute) with 400 HP fan motor, running all the time to all woodworking machines, even if they are not used. Karges is using less then 10% of the machinery on average, so the classical design is huge waste of energy. The installed system uses a 250 HP high efficiency Baldor motor, running an average of 61 kW (80 HP). Compared with classical design, the Ecogate system savings is 80% of electricity (measured), with measured (& extrapolated) savings: $32,000 at 1 shift, $63,000 at 2 shifts, and $132,833 at 3 shifts. Because all the facts Karges system was nominated for the "29th Annual Energy Efficient Building Awards". Awards will be presented at in Atlanta in November, concurrent with the World Energy Engineering Congress ( www.energycongress.com ).
September: Installing Energy Efficient Equipment -Cost of Delay
Quantifying the costs of delaying the installation of an energy efficiency project adds a new dimension to the financial decision. Corporation officials often feel that postponing the installation of energy efficiency equipment until such time as the operating or capital budget dollars are available-rather than financing the installation immediately-is a better financial decision. They reason that if internal budget dollars are used, paying interest can be avoided completely. However, delaying the installation will delay the point at which energy savings can begin. Energy efficiency equipment differs from other capital equipment. Because the dollars saved by installing energy efficiency equipment can be used to pay for its financing, this equipment can be installed without having to increase operating costs or use precious capital budget dollars. In fact, as long as the lease payments are lower than the energy dollars saved, a positive cash flow is created that can be used for other projects.
In today's tightening economy, with uncertain and often increasing energy prices, a good energy efficiency policy is a necessity. Accelerating the installation of energy efficiency equipment will improve not only your facilities but also your financial statement.
Many manufacturing operations tend to ignore the opportunity to save significant money on their electricity bill by using Ecogate systems. Our new program "Paid by Electricity Savings" is making this decision easier: no down payment, monthly payment less than energy saving for qualified customers.
September: The East Coast Blackout of 2003
A cascading power failure occurs in eight U.S. states and one Canadian province. At last count, according to the Wall Street Journal, estimated costs due to the blackout total approximately $6 billion. An estimated 50 million people in New York, Michigan, Ohio, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Ontario province in Canada, and neighboring areas lost power for nearly 30 hours.
The massive power blackout is jump-starting congressional action on a energy bill. President Bush, congressional leaders say the final version will have three elements aimed at preventing future blackouts: mandatory reliability standards, investment incentives and reform of transmission sitting rules. All these changes mean higher investments, and cost of electricity will rise. We hope that in addition to fuel efficiency standards for cars and trucks also energy saving will be part of the bill.
How you can protect yourself from the higher energy costs? By installing energy efficient technology: electricity cost is an expense you can control!
September
New Ecogate MASTER Installations We are currently finished pilot installation for one of the largest U.S. woodworking manufacturers - Universal Forest Product (300 HP system for their California Riverside plant). Another installation of MASTER 75 HP system is in progress for Merritt Woodwork in Ohio.
August
This is a brief update of the results of Ecogate's participation at AWFS.
. Ecogate is the winner of "AWFS 2003 New Product Show Case" for DataMining - Plant Monitoring software! Data Mining is a new software tool that provides powerful management reporting of data already being captured. This new product was received with enthusiasm from large customers.
. Several customers who are already using the Ecogate Master industrial system expressed interest in new projects for their remaining plants. One large customer brought completed SURVEY FORMS of engineering data for all of their plants in the U.S.
. Ecogate's Distributor from Australia ordered another $30,000 of small systems during AWFS. They are selling these systems to the woodworking shops throughout their school systems.
. A new software tool called "Duct Optimizer" caused a lot of excitement. You have to see it to believe it! It is very sophisticated (algorithms accessing over 16,000,000 iterations), yet easy to use. Simple point and click features determine the proper duct size, FPM, Static Pressure, diameter of hoods, etc. Several companies asked if this software is available for sale, however, it is not even ready for general distribution at this time. This will become a huge success.
. Ales Litomisky was an AWFS key note speaker to a large group of business leaders. Industrial Ventilation design was the topic and the feedback was most favorable.
2003 AWFS - Anaheim will be remembered as one of the corner stones enabling Ecogate to one day fulfill a dream of building a world-wide company servicing the Industrial Ventilation Industry with world class technological solutions.
Let us know how we can help you provide these new products and services to your best customers. They will be happy that you did!
July
ECOGATE is going to be exhibiting at the AWFS® Fair, July 310 through August 3 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Southern California. We will be exhibiting both the industrial and small ECOGATE systems; our booth is #985 in Hall D. Over 800 exhibiting companies will be displaying the latest technologies; don't miss the largest 2003 industry event in North America. For more information, visit www.AWFSfair.org; phone 800-946-2937.
We preparing Ecogate is conducting two regular daily presentations; the first will be at 10:00 AM "Introduction to Ecogate" covering all Ecogate systems. The second presentation will be held every day at 1:30 PM called "Advanced Session" covering new Ecogate DataMining software & Plant Monitoring, Ecogate Duct Optimizer, New Ecogate Wizards for those familiar with Ecogate Systems.
Please invite your customers and decision makers to these presentations and stop by for the "Advanced Session". Introductory training for those interested to come be an Ecogate dealer will be available during the show. Do you need to enhance "Ecogate Wizards" skills or are you interested in introduction to greenBOX MASTER setup? Stop by at our booth.
To help to expand your understanding to all Ecogate Systems, we are preparing these year special "hands on" displays for the AWFS show. Each Ecogate system (greenBOX ONE, 8-channel greenBOX, greenBOX PRO & MASTER, plus gates) will be presented fully functional on separate panels with all accessories available for each particular system. Great possibility to understand to Ecogate Systems up to the last detail!
During the AWFS Fair new Ecogate Wizards version will be available. Along the improvements new main screen with "Ecogate Navigator Aid" will be presented. Other improvements are easier, simpler file management. Wizard will allow you to import your own logo.
July
Part of the AWFS Fair is "The 2003 College of Woodworking Knowledge ". Seminars highly focused and topical sessions led by experts from across the nation. Ecogate Systems will be presented by Ales Litomisky in a seminar entitled "Safe and Savvy Dust Control in Large Shops" on Saturday, August 2, 2003 from 10:30. An introduction to the Ecogate system, the scientific background & "Duct Optimizer" will be presented.
July
Ecogate DataMiningT software Version 2.5 is now available for dealers and customers with an installation CD and User Guide. Software was tested on Windows 2000 & XP. We are already using it to prepare data for greenBOX MASTER, downloading data via modem from installed systems, generate savings reports, workstation activity reports, systems settings report and to support "Paid by Savings" systems. We will demonstrate software during the AWFS show. Both installation files and User Guide will be available on the next release of Ecogate CD (will be shipped after the AWFS show).
July
BETA (test) version of Ecogate Duct Optimizer - program that allows calculation of the duct diameters for dust collection systems with Ecogate System is now available. Both installation files and User Guide will be available on the next release of Ecogate CD (will be shipped after the AWFS show). We will demonstrate software during the AWFS show. Program can display air-velocities, air-volume, static pressure losses in any part of duct system for any combination of open/close gates, can optimize "initially open gates", can calculate about 16 million combinations of open/close gates for any "operating point" and recommend optimal diameter of all ducts.
July
We have the update Ecogate PowerPoint Presentation with the latest information. We also added the possibility to jump over any section that you don't liken to cover during your presentation. What's new in presentation: DataMining software & "Plant Monitoring", "Paid by Saving" and Operating Leasing payment options, new tax law, updated customer list and more. At a same time presentation is now better organized in newly created sections. New PowerPoint presentation will be available on the next release of Ecogate CD (will be shipped after the AWFS show).
June
New ECOGATE software wizards, version 1.94 are now available. Improvements includes easy to use toolbar in every wizard, and many small improvements.
June
We are working on program that allows calculation of the duct diameters for dust collection systems with Ecogate System. Program can display air-velocities, air-volume, static pressure losses in any part of duct system for any combination of open/close gates, can optimize "initially open gates", can calculate about 16 million combinations of open/close gates for any "operating point" (one operating point is for example 50% of the machinery operating, next for example 55% of machinery operating, etc.) and recommend optimal diameter of all ducts.
June
Study about the future version of the Ecogate software was completed this month with recommendation to use Microsoft .NET strategy and XML documents with all data centrally located on server and available through internet.
May
DataMining software Version 2 is internally tested in Ecogate. Software is used to prepare data for greenBOX MASTER, downloading data via modem from installed systems. We are working on some improvements, finishing support for "rate schedules" and on a DataMining installation program. Export filter for Excel, Word, text files are now included.
May
First ten systems of the new generation III of Ecogate MASTER Systems are successfully running in installations for Ethan Allen, Patrick Industries, North Atlantic Corp., Sauder Manufacturing, Karges and Windsor Mill. Installations of other two systems are in progress. Transition from an old generation to a new generation is always challenging, and we are excited that these systems are up and successfully running. Two new system options are also running well: "Transport on Demand" and "Delta-Star Soft Start". We would like to thank the development team, our dealers and our installers for this successful transition.
March
ECOGATE is going to be exhibiting in the WESTEC 2003 show at Los Angeles Convention Center. Come visit us at our booth No. 5406. We will be exhibiting both the industrial and small ECOGATE Systems. Westec 2003 Advanced Productivity Exposition (APEX) returns March 24-27, 2003, to the Los Angeles (CA) Convention Center. More than 600 exhibiting companies will display and demonstrate international product lines in 150 technology categories. For more information, visit www.sme.org/westec ; phone 800-733-4763.
March
Cash incentive for new energy savings installations: A new Cash Incentive "Savings by Design" is available for SOCAL Edison customers. If you install the ECOGATE MASTER System with Variable Speed Drive for your new dust collection system and you use a premium efficiency motor for the fan, then you can receive a one-time incentive of $0.03 per each kWh saved in the first year of operation. You can save another 3% of energy consumption, if you use a direct drive (not a belt drive) fan motor. An additional 3-5% can be saved if you will our new "Transport on Demand". Take advantage of these opportunities today! Your project will be more efficient and productive for years to come. Energy Efficient systems happen by design!
March
Visit the Seminar "Business of Energy Management in California". Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) Southern California Chapter presents 2003 ANNUAL EXPO & CONFERENCE Thursday, March 20, 2003, Holiday Inn Select, La Mirada, CA.. See presentation Energy Saving Industrial Ventilation (10:00-11:45) about the ECOGATE System in section High Performance Industrial Facilities. For details, visit http://www.aeecenter.org/chapters/
March
China WoodMac, Shanghai 2003 Feb 25 - 28. Ecogate's participation in this exhibition yielded many potentially significant opportunities. Based upon the feedback from several companies, the cost of energy is in the range of 7.5 cents to 15 cents per kilowatt hour. More important is their claim that the cost of energy is about 30% of their total cost of production compared with 2% to 5% in the U.S. They also reported that most companies work 2 or 3 shifts and many factories have big motors (75 - 300 HP) operating their dust collection system. This is obviously the reason for the high level of interest in Ecogate. Some companies would like to come to the U.S. this month to see the Ecogate System operating in a plant.
March
Read NEW Article about ECOGATE Systems in Woodshop News magazine , March issue 2003, page T25.
March
New User Guide for ECOGATE MASTER system, Generation 3 is available in electronic form (PDF file) and as a hardcopy, new user guide describes new greenBOX firmware version, new Power MASTER programming, incl. remote access to the ECOGATE system.
February
EnergyEcon finished installations of three industrial MASTER systems for Ethan Allen, VT. Currently we are working on installations of six MASTER systems.
February
"Paid By Savings" installment sale: to ease the cost of ownership, customers will make monthly payments to an independent finance company based on their actual monthly electricity savings. The highlights of this program include: . No cash deposit required by customer . Monthly payments based upon 90% of actual electricity savings . Positive cash flow during acquisition of ECOGATE system . 30% bonus depreciation plus potential property tax exemption. The program works as follows: the ECOGATE computer captures the actual consumption of electricity and stores that data on a memory flash card. The data is automatically compared to the baseline electricity consumption without the ECOGATE system. This information is then sent via modem to the finance company, which in turn immediately prepares an invoice equal to 90% of the current month's savings, with a guaranteed minimum payment.
February
Energy Star Award, our installation of three ECOGATE MASTER system for Autumn Milling, CA won Energy Star Award 2002, see detail at http://estar6.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=sb_success.sb_2002winners .
February
We received orders for installation of these large industrial systems: Patrick Industries, CA (two MASTER systems), Karges, IN (one 250 HP MASTER system), Ethan Allen (four MASTER systems), VT, North Atlantic Corp., CT (two MASTER systems), Sauder Manufacturing, OH (one 250 HP system). Read press release about the installation.
February
New User Guide for ECOGATE (small) system, Version 4 is available in electronic form (PDF file), new user guide supports new EG204B 4" gates, new EG313 toroidal sensors.
February
New version of the ECOGATE DataMining software is available, including remote access to MASTER systems via modem.
February
New ECOGATE Presentation, incl. video sequences available to our dealers, you can requested it on CD
February
New product - 7" and 9" motorized gates are available. (gates are now available for these duct sizes: 4", 5", 6", 7", 8", 9", 10", 12", 14', 16").
February
Hodges Laboratories at NC State Univ. hosted a training program for 9 Sales Engineers from Industrial Air Quality (IAQ) Youngsville , NC. IAQ is a new Ecogate Dealer. Training included a live demonstration of the Ecogate Master Industrial System in Hodges Laboratories state of the art facility.
January
We finished installations of these industrial MASTER systems: GL Veneer, 300 + 100 HP systems, Leepers Stair, 300 HP system, Heley Brothers ( four 150 HP systems). Currently we are working on installations of six MASTER systems.
January
Koger-Air , new ECOGATE dealer, sales cycle and ECOGATE wizards training. Koger Air, Martinsville, VA designed a complete Dust Collection system to replace the aging system at Karges of Evansville, IN . Their successful design incorporated the Ecogate master industrial system. The price including Ecogate was less than the Classical new design, plus Karges will save $70,000 per year! Great team effort. Karges has been in business since the 1800s and is the Rolls Royce of Furniture with some pieces in excess of $30,000 which are shipped around the world.
January
New product, " Transport On Demand " is available now. This industrial PLC can control all necessary motors to operate complete filter unit (transport fan or screw, air-lock, cleaning arm, cleaning air compressor) in proper sequences and delays (according filter manufacturer specification) and it is fully compatible with ECOGATE MASTER system. Benefit: additional energy saving, because filter starts "on demand", when somebody starts any workstation connected to the dust collecting. Currently companies are typically starting transport 15 minutes before shift stars, keeping it running during the breaks and switching of transport two hours after the shift. With this system we can save up to 2 hours of the running per day - that represents at 50 HP transport fan, 2 hour savings per day 32.000 kWh per year and savings $6,000 @ electricity cost $0.19 per kWh, $4000 per year @ electricity cost $0.12 per kWh, $2,000 @ electricity cost $0.065 per kWh.
January
New ECOGATE software wizards, version 1.91 are now available. They support new ECOGATE products (7", 9" gates, generation III of the MASTER system), wizards are now generating automatically What-if scenario savings calculations, including charts and technical calculations.
January
See Article about ECOGATE Systems for Ethan Allen corporation at Burlington Free Press - Business http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/bfpnews/business/2000h.htm . In addition to this article there were news articles from Newport Daily and the Barton Chronicle. There was also a TV station whose video includes the Ecogate motorized gates. In attendance were EA executives, Efficiency Vermont executives, a State Senator, 2 State reps and numerous other media people.