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A new study by energy efficiency company, Johnson Controls Inc.,  took a look at the effect workplace comfort has on employee productivity and energy conservation.

"Employers may be tempted to turn down the thermostats this fall, but this quick fix could lead to hidden costs," said Clay Nesler, Johnson Controls' vice president. "Energy efficient systems and equipment is the win-win alternative, allowing businesses to save energy and money without sacrificing workplace productivity."

• 69% of the 800 US office workers surveyed for the study said they are "willing to sacrifice" their preferred ideal temperature on the job if that helps conserve energy.
  
• 45% said they think their employers are not doing enough to make their offices more energy efficient.
• 78% of workers said their productivity falls when they feel too cold or too hot at the office
• 98% said their offices are too hot or too cold at some point.

Solutions to Workplace Comfort

The study found that as a result

• 49% said they use a fan when they feel too hot,
  
• 28%  use a space heater
• 30% said they leave their office building to warm up or cool down by taking a walk.
• 41% report their discomfort to an office manager or facilities worker
• 69% try to remedy the situation by adding or removing a layer of clothing.

The findings provide further insight into employee behavior and workplace conditions.

The National Renewable Energies Lab's  Economic Development program links investors and entrepreneurs to provide avenues to financial services, and connects small businesses with the NREL Incubator Alliance.

NREL supports the growth of renewable energy and energy efficiency businesses.

Through the Enterprise Development program, NREL can help clean energy businesses develop market orientations by facilitating strong links with the financial community, as well as other key stakeholders in the commercialization process.

Contact Lawrence M. Murphy at (303) 275-3050 to learn more about NREL's economic development program.

The Clean Energy Alliance

Established by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, The Clean Energy Alliance  provides tailored business and financial services tailored to the clean-energy community.

Incubators

The Incubator Survey summary completed in December 2006 tracks companies, employees, revenues, and capital raised as a measure of the program's success. (PDF 73.7 KB)

To learn more visit The Clean Energy Alliance.

NREL welcomes inquires from clean energy entrepreneurs, incubators, and network collaborators. 

Contact NREL representative Dr. L. Marty Murphy, Manager of NREL Enterprise Development Programs, Golden, Colorado, at 303-275-3050, lawrence_murphy@nrel.gov or contact the incubators directly:

BizTech
Dick Reeves, CEO
515 Sparkman Dr
Huntsville, AL 35816
256-704-6000(office)

Blue Hill Partners, LLC
Joyce Ferris, Managing Partner
40 West Evergreen Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19118
215-247-2400

Business Innovation Center
Tom Siegwald, Director
1301 Azalea Road
Mobile, AL 36693
251-660-7002

Clean Energy Incubator
Kurt Faulhaber, Acting Director
3925 W. Braker Lane R5500
Austin, TX 78704
512-305-0038

Clean Energy Innovation Center
Marty Murphy
Denver, CO

CleanStart/McClellan Technology Incubator
Gary Simon
5022 Bailey Loop Rd
McClellan, CA 95652
916-566-1249

Energy & Environmental Technology Applications Center
Pradeep Haldar, Director
255 Fuller Rd
Albany, NY 12203
518-437-8686

Enterprise Center of Johnson County
Joel Wiggins, President & CEO
8527 Bluejacket Street
Lenexa, KS 66214
913-438-2282

Environmental Business Cluster
James Robbins, Executive Director
2N. First St., 4th Floor
San Jose, CA 95113
408-938-3920

Georgia Institute of Technology - Venture Lab
Stephen Fleming, Chief Communications Officer
75 Fifth Street, NW, Suite 314
Atlanta, GA 30308
404-385-2360

Ignite Technology Ventures, LLC
Bruce Anderson, CEO
150 Lincoln St., #3C
Boston, MA 02111
617-290-9913

National Environmental Technology Incubator
Gerald T. Noel, Sr., Acting Executive
P.O. Box 1004
Wilberforce, OH 45384
937-376-6216

Northwest Energy Technology Collaborative
Jeff Morris, Director
300 Fluke Hall, Box #352140
Seattle, WA 98195
609-499-3600

Rensselaer Incubator Program
Michael Tentnowski, Director
110 8th Street/3101 J Building
Troy, NY 12180
518-276-6658

Rutgers EcoComplex
David Specca, Acting Director
1200 Florence-Columbus Rd
Bordertown, NJ 08505
609-499-3600

Technological Research and Development Authority
James N. Culp, Energy Program
5195 S. Washington Ave
Titusville, FL 32780
321-269-6330

Technology Ventures Corporation
Suzanne Roberts, Project Director
1155 University Blvd, SE
Albuquerque, NM 87106
505-843-4091

Weatherization equipment is improving in efficiency with the advent of aerosol-spray technique developed and tested with DOE funding.
 
Aerosol-Spray Technology for Air Duct Sealing

Best practices air duct sealing using aerosol-spray technology was developed by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) with funding from DOE, the Environmental Protection Agency, and others. The University of California (which manages LBNL) was granted a patent in 1999 on this technology.

Aeroseal Exclusive Patent Licensee on Residential and Small Buildings 

Aeroseal now holds an exclusive license to use this technology on residential and small commercial buildings.

Although the technology itself was developed by LBNL, Aeroseal developed the current version of the equipment and software used in the field test to apply the technology in the field. Aeroseal began licensing the technology in January 1999 to a limited number of experienced HVAC contractors in different geographic and market areas through a franchise arrangement.

The cost of a franchise is about $20,000. This cost includes the equipment, software, and training on how to implement the technology. Under the franchise agreement, the franchisee must meet minimum production quotas set by Aeroseal, provide Aeroseal with data collected on each house sealed using the technology for quality control purposes, and pay Aeroseal a royalty fee for each house sealed using the technology.

Conventional Best Practices Air Duct Equipment

For the conventional, best-practice approach, several national manufacturers produce duct blowers and related equipment to duplicate the diagnostics performed in this field test. The cost of duct blowers are about $2000.

Training for Best Practices Weatherization
 
Training on the conventional, best-practice approaches used in this field test using a duct blower can probably be obtained from the manufacturer for a fee and is also often provided at national energy conferences.

Aeroseal, a division of Carrier Corp.
Carrier Parkway, TR-2
PO Box 4802
Syracuse, NY  13221
http://www.aeroseal.com/

ENERGY STAR^TM
Recommends Duct Sealing

SOURCE:

"Field Test of Advanced Duct-Sealing Technologies within the Weatherization Assistance Program" November 2001; Mark P. Ternes, Ho-Ling Hwang.  Prepared by the
OAK RIDGE NATIONAL LABORATORY, Oak Ridge, Tennessee.  This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States government. A copy of the complete research report is at:  http://weatherization.ornl.gov/Publications.htm