Lincoln (Neb.) - Oct. 19, 2000 - It was the mid-1970s and the country was in the midst of an energy crisis. Because of an oil embargo, heating fuel and gasoline prices soared. The focus turned to conserving energy. People bought smaller cars, turned down their thermostats and sealed up their homes. But something happened on the way to in-home energy efficiency. People began to get sick.
"Houses began to sweat, because moisture couldn't escape," said Max Kirk, associate professor and interim chair of construction management in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Engineering and Technology. "This created a breeding ground for molds and other contaminants."
To alleviate the problem, contractors cut a 4-inch hole in the basement wall of a home to run a duct to the furnace. When the furnace fan kicks in, fresh air circulates through the house, creating a healthier environment.
"It's great because outside air dilutes contaminants in the home," said Tim Wentz, assistant professor of construction management.
But there was another problem.
"When the fan is off, cold air flows into the furnace, wasting energy significantly and freezing pipes," Wentz said. Some people plug the holes, which only takes them back to where they started.
Kirk first heard about all this while a student at Washington State University. He was in a mechanical systems class discussing how to prevent heat loss when an idea began to form. A few years later he began working on a design. But it would be 20 years before he and Wentz made the concept a reality.
In 1993 the two began working on the MODAMP, a motorized damper that attaches to the furnace to control airflow into the home. Today they carry a patent on it, and with the University of Nebraska Technology Park, are seeking a manufacturer.
The small device - the model is only 12 inches long - attaches to the furnace fresh air intake. When the furnace kicks on, the damper opens and allows fresh air to circulate through the house. When the furnace is off, the damper closes, blocking outside air and preventing heat loss.
"It provides a healthy environment without the energy loss of the current system," Wentz said.
When applying for a patent on his invention, Kirk was told there probably were several such devices on the market. But research proved there were not, and the request for a patent moved forward.
"This device is so simple people missed it," he said. "It's like the
paper clip - someone had to invent it."
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