February 14, 2007

Ta-da!

The idea of combined heat and power – or cogeneration – has been around for a while, but harnessing it for domestic use is underexploited.

Marathon Engine Systems have tapped into this area and are now offering an Ecopower Micro-CHP (Combined Heat and Power) unit, which basically produces electrical power with a combustion engine. The heat – normally lost in vehicles and other engine-driven applications- is recovered from the generator, engine and exhaust system and can be used for local heating purposes.

It can easily heat a multi-family home, and larger buildings can be accommodated by installing multiple units. The noise level of a unit is less than 56 db(A), which is about as loud as a refrigerator.…