I learned about this via Asymptomatic. The story is covered in the Salt Lake Tribune. Tyler Lyon and Daniel Winegar won the first Ricoh Sustainable Development Award. Another recent high-school graduate, Chad Thornley, was also involved.

Apparently their invention could end up eliminating the need for a separate freon air conditioning system in cars. Instead, the car’s electrical system could power the A/C, saving a substantial portion of the fuel needed to power it. I wonder, though, if the system is really powerful enough to work down here in Texas.

I also can’t help wondering if this will end up in computers. According to the article, Intel sponsored the International Science and Engineering Fair, which chose the winner. The Fair was held in Phoenix, so no wonder an air conditioner won!

There are likewise obvious potential aerospace applications. Most folks don’t realize how much thermal control goes into spacecraft. Heaters are straightforward, but I’m sure there would be many potential applications for a simple, compact, reliable electric-powered cooling device.

This is also one more illustration of how there are many good ideas out there, if companies will just take the time to look. We need to have more invention contests, but more than that we need some companies that will actively fight NIH (not invented here) in their culture and systematically cultivate outside talent. Innovation is one area where outsourcing could actually be good for everyone.