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Century To Try Device To ‘Recycle Electricity’
June 5, 2012
The Town of Century voted Monday night to purchase an energy savings box that a salesperson promised would save the town money on electric bills by “recycling and reusing” electricity.
Don Statam of Peak Energy Technology told the council that the device, a “Peak Energy Saver” would save the town about $300 per month if installed at a water tower that serves the Century Correctional Institution.
The “power factor correction unit” works by storing electricity in capacitors until it is needed for the excess starting load created by electric motors.
The town will pay $750 up front for the device for a 90 day trial period. If the town is satisfied that the Peak Energy Saver actually saves money, the town will pay an additional $750 to complete the $1,500 purchase price. In the event the town is not happy within the 90 day period, Statam said the company will provide a full refund, minus installation costs.
“That electricity just goes back out the wire,” Statam said as he demonstrated a Peak Energy Saver. “They (the power company) just sells it to you over and over again….Gulf Power themselves capture it to use again.”
When asked by NorthEscambia.com what would happen if the device damaged the town’s property, Statam replied, “We’ve never had that happen”.
When questioned about the company’s references Statam could immediately provide the names of just two previous customers that had purchased the device from the company., including a small Texas town that was featured in television news segment.
“We can’t lose,” Mayor Freddie McCall said, recommending the purchase to the town council.
Picture top: Don Statam of Peak Energy Technology demonstrates a “Peak Energy Saver 200″ for the Century Town Council Monday night. Pictured inset: A closeup of the device. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Comments
15 Responses to “Century To Try Device To ‘Recycle Electricity’”
Really? I can’t wait for this to go viral
This article shows a fundamental lack of understanding about conservation of energy and electricity.
Energy is conserved. It’s not just a good idea. It’s the law.
How many electric motors would this device service? It seems it would be wasted on one, unless it was a really big motor, and then it would seem that the proper electrical infrastructure would be in place so that it would not be neccessary to strain the system due to constantly turning it on and off…any electricians here willing to clarify? Ggg
I would have thought it would be more cost effective for all the state/town owned buildings to install solar panels. You seem to have an abundance of that ‘ hot and shiny ‘ thing in the sky.
I can’t believe the town got sucked in with this plot.
Sounds like snake oil to me!
There may be some merit to power factor correction capacitors but they are usually used after some testing to see if you have a power factor problem. Me being an electrical guy for 35 years, I would advise the Town of Century to go to your power provider first, I don’t recall if it’s GP or EREC there. GP at one time had energy audits and could show ways to reduce consumption. Remember friends, there’s always free cheese in the mouse trap.
You people amaze me. You knock Century down for everything they try. No one is perfect and none of us make the right decisions all of the time. BUT Century is trying something new. Of course they did their homework just like you and I do (well hopefully you do). How about some positive feedback for people that are trying? Haven’t you heard of that thing called “positive reinforcement”? Evidently not! I give the town council points for trying something, if it works then great, if it does not then we move on and try something else.
I have to admire Mayor McCall’s optimism and enthusiasm.
And the band played Autum.
Next on the agenda is the city will equip all of it’s vehicles with hydrogen generators so that they will run on water.
P.T. Barnum was right.
$25 worth of parts for $1500? Pretty good investment. Especially when there is virtually no way to measure the actual savings that this “capacitor” box saves you. And they usually say “Do Not Break The Seal or Warranty is Void”. They should have done some homework on the Internet and less listening to the bean seller.
He is correct in that there is some electricity that is “overload” and goes back. Yes, capacitors can hold a certain amount of electricity, but whether or not it is a significant amount to save money is another question. Obviously some of that is used to run the device. If you are losing a lot of electricity then it would save you some money. I guess my question is whether or not a wind/solar device would be cheaper and save more money.
I was going to say I was thinking of the rainmaker, but HUH hit the nail on the head.
“Next they will trade the cow the for the magic beans…”
No…don’t give it away. I was working my slick proposal right now to sell them to century! One’s born every minute!
Next they will trade the cow the for the magic beans….