WASHINGTON, April 25, 2003 -- Big savings in energy efficiency - savings in both operating costs and greenhouse gas emissions - were highlighted at the 2003 Earth Technologies Forum in Washington, D.C. in front of this annual gathering of world leaders in climate change policy.

The revolutionary TURBOCOR range of oil-free centrifugal air-conditioning compressors is designed to bring operating cost savings of more than 30 percent to air-conditioning chillers and rooftop packages in the 60-500 ton markets. In January, the technology won the coveted 2003 ASHRAE Energy Innovation Award. In March, it won the 2003 Canadian Energy Efficiency Award, Equipment category.

For owners and operators of large commercial, institutional and industrial buildings, the TURBOCOR innovation in energy efficiency boils down to major savings in lifetime operating costs. "If you're a building owner," says a TURBOCOR spokesman, "you can save more than 30 percent on your operating costs and help save the Earth."

The TURBOCOR compressor range, protected by some 14 international patents, integrates leading-edge thermodynamic and electronic technologies with magnetic bearings to achieve IPLV efficiencies more than 30 percent better than traditional compressors in its capacity range. Its performance can be continually monitored via state-of-the-art Web-based monitoring and diagnostics.

Efficiency gains, especially at part load, offer both economic and environmental advantages, says the company. Depending on end-user tariff structures, return on investment (ROI) is often more than 30 percent for chiller replacement. Payback periods can be very short. And environmental impact can be large when you reduce utility generated greenhouse gas emissions by millions of tons over the compressor's 25-year lifetime.

In addition to offering IPLV efficiencies that are a quantum leap above rest-of-class, the compressor is oil-free, unusually lightweight (265 lb.), extraordinarily quiet (less than 70 dBa at 1.5 meters), and it uses 2 amps starting current rather than 500 amps.

The TURBOCOR compressor range is designed for both chilled water and direct-expansion applications, and is available for both water-cooled and air- cooled chiller applications. Starting with magnetic bearings and fully digital electronics, the two-stage centrifugal range fully integrates its leading-edge but well-proven component technologies to maximize operating efficiencies and cost savings. The range is fully compliant with the ASHRAE 90.1 standard and is designed and manufactured by TURBOCOR, an independent group founded in 1993 and based at Montreal, Quebec and La Crosse, Wis.

Early marketers of chillers and rooftops designed around the new technology include McQuay, AAON, Mammoth, RAE and others.

For more information on TURBOCOR and the benefits to the environment of this award-winning technology, visit www.turbocor.com or contact executive vice-president Roger Richmond-Smith at (514) 577-7371 or rrs@turbocor.com