System combines home heating, power generation

For much of the United States, high heating bills have become as synonymous with winter as snowplows and ski trips. But this winter, a new home energy technology will allow homeowners to turn home heating into power generation. The freewatt technology, which is manufactured by ECR International, uses micro-combined heat and power (micro-CHP) technology and combines a furnace and generator to make electricity and heat the home. Developed with support from PERC, freewatt has been featured in the American Gas Industry Showroom at the International Builders Show, held Jan. 20-23 in Las Vegas. The freewatt technology is available to consumers who use natural gas. A propane version, freewatt Plus, will feature backup power capability and is expected to be available by spring 2009.