February 2014 - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) awardee ACTA Technology presented Dr. Jim Johnson, Director of EPA's National Center for Environmental Research, and April Richards, SBIR Program Manager, with a copy of their "Red Ribbon" patent. The presentation was a gesture of gratitude for the EPA SBIR Phase I contract awarded to ACTA in 2011, which supported the development of their patented technology. Dr. Edward Clancy, CEO Michael Minard and Dr. John Olson attended as representatives of the company.

ACTA Technology received an SBIR award for the development of "A Greener and More Energy Efficient Geothermal Heat Pump (GHP) Fluid." Presently, GHPs use either propylene, a common food preservative, or ethylene glycol water mixtures such as antifreeze. ACTA's patented research involves a process of using shear thinning, fumed aluminum oxide in either propylene or ethylene glycol water mixtures. Their novel heat transfer fluid uses these particles with a negative charge, thereby creating a stable circulating fluid without the need for a surfactant. ACTA's propylene and ethylene glycol water mixtures can be used in many other heat transfer applications including automobiles. ACTA's new fluids have the potential to reduce the weight of automobiles and improve fuel economy.

EPA is one of 11 agencies participating in the SBIR Program. Contracts are awarded to small science and technology-based companies that pass rigorous technical and commercial review of their submitted proposals. Projects are funded in phases. Phase I companies can receive up to $100,000 toward researching the feasibility of their project, and those that are selected from the Phase I pool can receive Phase II awards of up to $400,000 toward the commercialization of their technology.

For more information about EPA's SBIR program, visit EPA’s SBIR Program.

For more information about ACTA Technology and their innovations, visit ACTA Technology. Exit

To learn about ACTA technology's SBIR Phase I award, visit Greener and More Energy Efficient Renewable Energy Resource – Geothermal Heat Pumps.