CoolSurge

[russ_watters]

They had a full page ad in today's USA Today. Near as I can tell, it uses blocks of ice to make cool air: 6. HOW EXACTLY DOES THE COOL SURGE WORK?
The Cool Surge is a work of engineering genius that blasts out ice cooled air but only uses the same electricity as a 60 Watt Light Bulb.
It's as easy to use as a baby's vaporizer and even includes the extra cooling power of 4 reusable glacier ice blocks. '
http://www.coolsurge.com/faq.cfm

[WarPhalange]

So it's like putting a fan next to some ice cubes?

[lisab]

Dang it! That's exactly how I cool my (south-facing) office - I arrange a big ice block, a box fan and a bucket! If I had only known I could sell this lame idea for money...

[LowlyPion]

I think that really borders on criminal misrepresentation and fraud. USA Today should be ashamed to allow such an ad.

Most especially the claims that it cools the air 10 degrees coupled with the claim that it uses 93% less energy.

This is patently not the case.

Edit: In fraud there may be misrepresentation by either commission or omission as in this Federal statute relating to stock fraud:

"... or to omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, ..."

[russ_watters]

I think that really borders on criminal misrepresentation and fraud. USA Today should be ashamed to allow such an ad.

Most especially the claims that it cools the air 10 degrees coupled with the claim that it uses 93% less energy.

This is patently not the case.

Edit: In fraud there may be misrepresentation by either commission or omission as in this Federal statute relating to stock fraud:

"... or to omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements made, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, ..." I've emailed them before - maybe I'll email them about this one too.

[LowlyPion]

I've emailed them before - maybe I'll email them about this one too.

I didn't see it, I almost never see USA Today unless it's shoved under a hotel door and I pick it up to keep from slipping on it, so I don't know how to reference it to them. But surely their attention should be drawn to it. If they were good citizens they would do a piece on exposing it even. Maybe even find a quotable physicist for them if need be. But I wouldn't expect them to do that. The monied suits still want those ad dollars.

Basically though it boils my juices to see people taken advantage of with this kind of hucksterism preying on the gullible.

[russ_watters]

I almost never see USA Today unless it's shoved under a hotel door.... Me too!...I'm traveling for work right now.

[Moonbear]

:rofl: I think that's the USA Today's entire circulation, getting shoved under hotel doors. It's the only time I read it either.

The trick must be that you need to use someone else's freezer to make your ice block, otherwise it would be more efficient to put the fan in front of the open freezer, and we all know how useful that is. :rolleyes:

[NoTime]

:rofl: If you live somewhere that gets cold enough in the winter, you could harvest and store ice like they did in the days before refrigeration.

[Moonbear]

:rofl: If you live somewhere that gets cold enough in the winter, you could harvest and store ice like they did in the days before refrigeration.

While I was on the phone earlier this evening to report a power outage, I had to listen to the power company's "helpful tips" while on hold. "If it's below 0 outside, you could consider freezing a bucket of water to place in your refrigerator to help keep it cold." :uhh: It's August (and I don't think I've fallen off the Northern hemisphere yet). And if it were that cold outside, I could just put the refrigerator contents outside to keep them cold rather than waiting for buckets of water to freeze. :rolleyes: