Eco Factor: New material makes air conditioners 175 percent more efficient.
Researchers at the University of Maryland have developed a new “thermally elastic” alloy that can increase the efficiency of air conditioners and refrigeration systems by up to 175 percent. The development is supported by a $500,000 grant from the US Department of Energy.
The alloy serves as a solid coolant, as opposed to traditional liquid coolants and helps reduce energy consumption. Moreover, the research team believes that the use of the material will help reduce US carbon emissions by 250 million metric tons annually.