Patent ID: 8028536

Claim:
A system comprising: a housing: a heat exchanger mounted in the housing. wherein the heat exchanger includes a condenser; an ambient air intake mounted in the housing and configured to draw ambient air across the condenser: a reservoir configured to collect water condensed out of the ambient air by the condenser; an alternative source of water that is not condensed from the ambient air: a dispenser configured to alternately dispense water either from the reservoir or the alternative source, the dispenser comprising a network of tubing and at least one water valve, the alternative source being a city water line or a container of bottled water; and a humidistat, the humidistat determining a measured humidity, the humidistat permitting the heat exchanger and the ambient air intake to operate when the measured humidity is above a threshold humidity level, and the humidistat not permitting the heat exchanger and the ambient air intake to operate when the measured humidity is below a threshold humidity level; a first sterilizing UV lamp located between the air intake and the condenser; and a second sterilizing UV lamp located in the reservoir; and a tube that wraps around the second sterilizing UV lamp and is configured to circulate water close to the second sterilizing UV lamp and then within the reservoir.