**\"Smart Windows That Don\'t Need Blinds, Ultra-durable Sheet Metal
Presses and an Ethanol Process to Improve Market for Corn**

***Energy Department Awards \$4.4 Million to Develop Energy-Efficient
Technologies***

To improve energy efficiency in buildings and in manufacturing, the
Department of Energy (DOE) announced awards today totaling \$4.4 million
to advance energy efficient, environmentally clean production and
building technologies.

\"25 percent of the energy used to heat and cool buildings goes right
out the window,\" Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham said. \"The
innovative technologies receiving funding today will improve U.S.
industrial competitiveness while reducing energy use, helping to make
our nation more secure.\"

The Energy Department selected 19 organizations out of 202 proposals to
receive funding as part of two DOE programs: Inventions and Innovation
(I&I), and the National Industrial Competitiveness through Energy,
Environment and Economics (NICE3) initiative.

Among the projects selected for funding are:

-   **Advanced Processing Technology of Electrochromic Windows**: A
    process to develop new film patterning techniques for energy-saving
    smart windows. The process improves visible light transmission and
    reduces glare, while retaining a clear view and increasing thermal
    comfort.

-   **An Indirect Route for Ethanol Production**: A process to develop
    fuel ethanol from renewable resources to achieve savings of 80
    percent in energy consumption. The process helps U.S. farmers create
    a market for corn supplies and increases national energy security.

-   **Manufacturing Ceramic Products from Fiberglass Waste**: A low-cost
    energy method of completely transforming fiberglass waste into a
    dense ceramic product. The process could eliminate the need for
    disposal of 260,000 tons of fiberglass waste annually.

-   **Near-Infrared (NIR) Veneer Strength Sensor for Forest Industry**:
    Use of NIR sensors instead of ultra-sonic technology allows testing
    for veneer wood strength before drying. The NIR technology will
    improve process efficiency and reduce product waste, and is expected
    to save about \$23,000 annually in energy costs.

-   **The Force Modulator**: A durable sheet metal technology for the
    steel industry that allows proper control of press forces during
    part forming.

For more than 20 years, DOE\'s I&I program has funded more than 500
energy efficient inventions with nearly 25 percent of them reaching the
marketplace. Cumulative sales for those products total nearly \$710
million.

DOE\'s NICE3 program provides funding to state and industry partnerships
(large and small business) for projects that demonstrate advances in
energy efficiency and clean production technologies. State and industry
partnerships are eligible to receive a one-time grant of up to
\$525,000. The industrial partner may receive a maximum of \$500,000 in
federal funding. The non-federal cost share must be at least 50 percent
of the total cost of the project.

*Invention and Innovation awardees*

+------------------------------+-------------------------+-------------+
| **Invention**                | **Inventor & Location** | **Funding   |
|                              |                         | Amount**    |
+------------------------------+-------------------------+-------------+
| High-Efficiency Variable     | Advantek Consulting,    | \$200,000   |
| Dehumidification for Air     | Inc.                    |             |
| Conditioners                 |                         |             |
|                              | Melbourne, Fla.         |             |
+------------------------------+-------------------------+-------------+
| Electrochromic Windows:      | SAGE Electrochromics,   | \$200,000   |
| Advanced Processing          | Inc.                    |             |
| Technology                   |                         |             |
|                              | Faribault, Minn.        |             |
+------------------------------+-------------------------+-------------+
| Fuel Gas Generation from     | Virent Energy Systems,  | \$39,710    |
| Biomass via ACR              | LLC                     |             |
|                              |                         |             |
|                              | Verona, Wis.            |             |
+------------------------------+-------------------------+-------------+
| High Speed/Low Effluent      | Bio-Process Innovation, | \$200,000   |
| Process for Ethanol          | Inc.                    |             |
|                              |                         |             |
|                              | W. Lafayette, Ind.      |             |
+------------------------------+-------------------------+-------------+
| Multi-Rotor, Micro-Particle  | Emulsion Technologies   | \$200,000   |
| Generator                    | Corp.                   |             |
|                              |                         |             |
|                              | Indianapolis, Ind.      |             |
+------------------------------+-------------------------+-------------+
| Pulse Drying Experiment and  | PC Engineering          | \$200,000   |
| Burner Construction          |                         |             |
|                              | Corte Madera, Calif.    |             |
+------------------------------+-------------------------+-------------+
| An Indirect Route for        | ZeaChem, Inc.           | \$200,000   |
| Ethanol Production           |                         |             |
|                              | Lakewood, CO            |             |
+------------------------------+-------------------------+-------------+
| Development of New Stainless | Advanced Steel          | \$35,000    |
| Steel                        | Technology, LLC         |             |
|                              |                         |             |
|                              | Trafford, Penn.         |             |
+------------------------------+-------------------------+-------------+
| Oxide Dispersion             | Powdermet, Inc.         | \$199,750   |
| Strengthened Iron Aluminide  |                         |             |
| by CVD                       | Sun Valley, Calif.      |             |
+------------------------------+-------------------------+-------------+
| Medium Voltage Energy Saving | Power Efficiency Corp.  | \$40,000    |
| Motor Controller             |                         |             |
|                              | Ann Arbor, Mich.        |             |
+------------------------------+-------------------------+-------------+
| Energy Saving Method of      | Haun Labs               | \$200,000   |
| Manufacturing Ceramic        |                         |             |
| Products from Fiber Glass    | Santa Rosa, Calif.      |             |
| Waste                        |                         |             |
+------------------------------+-------------------------+-------------+
| Process for Converting Waste | Albacem, LLC            | \$200,000   |
| Glass Fiber into Value-Added |                         |             |
| Product                      | Peoria, Ill.            |             |
+------------------------------+-------------------------+-------------+
| Advanced Process Heater      | STORM Development, LLC  | \$40,000    |
|                              |                         |             |
|                              | North East, Penn.       |             |
+------------------------------+-------------------------+-------------+

*NICE^3^ awardees*

+------------------------------+-------------------------+-------------+
| **Technology**               | **Industrial Partner,   | **Funding   |
|                              | State Agency and        | Amount**    |
|                              | Location**              |             |
+------------------------------+-------------------------+-------------+
| Near-Infrared Veneer         | Oregon Office of Energy | \$523,000   |
| Strength Grading Sensors &   |                         |             |
| Process Control Application  | Salem, Ore.             |             |
| for Forest Industry          |                         |             |
+------------------------------+-------------------------+-------------+
| Production-Scale             | Resodyn Corp.           | \$500,000   |
| Demonstration of a           |                         |             |
| Bio-Pulping Facility         | Butte, Mont.            |             |
+------------------------------+-------------------------+-------------+
| Scaling-Up Manufacturing     | Superior Graphite Co.   | \$500,000   |
| Process of Low-Cost Novel    |                         |             |
| Carbonaceous Material for    | Chicago, Ill.           |             |
| Application in Rechargeable  |                         |             |
| Batteries                    |                         |             |
+------------------------------+-------------------------+-------------+
| Acid-Catalyzed Hydrolysis    | EMN Division            | \$480,000   |
|                              |                         |             |
|                              | Eastman Chemical Co.    |             |
|                              |                         |             |
|                              | Kingsport, Tenn.        |             |
+------------------------------+-------------------------+-------------+
| The Force Modulator: A New   | Metalforming Controls   | \$500,000   |
| Sheet Metal Work Holding     | Corp.                   |             |
| Technology                   |                         |             |
|                              | Cary, Ill.              |             |
+------------------------------+-------------------------+-------------+

News Media Contact:

Chris Kielich, 202-586-5806