Imagine an air conditioner that is also a heater, which works when it’s 100ºF or –30ºF. For some it sounds like something out of science fiction. It’s not — it is a reality. This unit, the Acadia, runs on electricity and is engineered to be energy efficient, economical, and environmentally friendly, potentially cutting costs by 70 percent.

According to Duane A. Hallowell, president and CEO of Hallowell International, the Acadia outperforms conventional heating systems by 200 percent. And compared to natural gas furnaces, the Acadia is 300 percent more efficient.

“The beauty with the Acadia is that you can heat and cool your house with our unit without contributing to global warming, and you save money,” said Hallowell. “In the summer it removes heat and cools it. Outside you can feel the hot air being expelled; inside it’s cool. That’s heated compression. A heat pump uses one-third to one-quarter of the power to do the same job as an electric energy source.”

Traditional heat pumps lose efficiency when temperatures outside drop below freezing, requiring additional resistance heaters to keep homes heated.

Many in the industry regard Hallowell’s product as revolutionary, because the Acadia works at 34 degrees below zero. Amongst other design innovations, Hallowell International have added a valve that sends a “false reading” to the temperature gage, making it think it is 45 degrees when it’s actually well below zero.

“Any time you compress air it gets hotter. That heat is moved through the Acadia and then is fed into the house, creating a vapor, through a fan. It’s a basic concept using electric energy to transfer heat,” said Hallowell. “The big difference is we developed a turbo concept.”

The technology is protected. “We have worldwide patents for this boosted compression technology,” said the inventor. “We have eight patents for our flagship product, the Acadia, and 125 engineering and thermodynamic patents all together. We are always researching and developing new technologies that aid in protecting our planet.”

Tucked away off a highway going into the center of Bangor sits the Hallowell International manufacturing facility. The company is one of Maine’s hidden innovative treasures, which has great potential.

According to Hallowell, 3.6 million heat pumps are sold in the United States every year and 11 million heating systems. The Acadia has been studied worldwide because of its state-of-the-art product.

“The market potential for the Acadia is huge. We’ve been under the radar. We grew by over 600 percent last year. We went from 2 million to 12 million {what? $? units?} overnight,” said Hallowell. “Frankly, we didn’t expect that kind of growth in Maine. But when gas hit $4 a gallon the phones didn’t stop.”

Because the Acadia slashes air conditioning costs dramatically, states south of Maine were avidly installing the units. Heat pumps there are better understood.

“Most of our Maine customers last year didn’t know what a heat pump was; they just wanted to get off oil. It was hard on businesses and families,” said Hallowell. “The Arcadia is a solution.”

Founded in 2005, Hallowell’s products are for both residential and commercial use and are distributed throughout the United States and Canada.

“When I started the company, I was looking at ways to improve the grid. The Acadia uses less electricity, so it relieves that pressure on the grid,” said Hallowell. “We work with electric utility companies on integrated load management. We are working with Long Island Power in New York.”

The owner is a native of Maine and could have chosen a number of states to start his business in. Instead he returned home.

“We have a great work ethic here in Maine. The workforce is second to none. I grew up in the lumber industry; my family had Hallowell Lumber, so I know Maine. Seeing what is happening with that industry, how they are diversifying with technology developed at the University of Maine, shows the state is building on its strengths. Developing biofuels from wood waste will move our mills into the future. I like the direction the state is heading,” said Hallowell. “When we first started, we worked with the Advanced Manufacturing Center at UMaine. They were a great resource. I was able to recruit engineers from the university. In fact, five out of thirty-six of our employees are UMaine graduates. Two of them I brought back to the state.”

Hallowell International is a company that has benefited from the state’s incentive programs. In 2005 the company was granted Pine Tree Zone status, a ten-year state tax exemption program.

“The city of Bangor gave us a forgivable loan. Having Pine Tree Zone status was tremendous, both incentives helped launch us,” said Duane.

The company’s mission philosophy is to help energy consumers reduce their carbon footprint and their dependence on fossil fuels.

“With global warming, the Acadia is the answer for many people who are looking to reduce their carbon footprint and save money. Some customers are using solar panels or windmills to power their Acadia,” said Hallowell. “Europe started energy efficiency 30 years ago; we are behind. A Maine home could spend $5,000 in energy costs a year; a European home five hundred. The difference is in weatherization.”

Five percent of Mainers use electric baseboard heat.

“We did a project with Maine State Housing to help someone living in a trailer who spent $5,000 in eclectic heat,” said Hallowell. “After we installed the Acadia, she found out that our unit reduced her bill by 75 percent.”

The Acadia is deceptively basic in design, looking like any other air-conditioning unit.

“We designed it simply to look like any other system, and to be able to fix easily if anything went wrong. Contractors need that kind of system. Customers aren’t just buying a heating system, they are buying a comfort level from their contractor.”

A map on the wall shows all the locations Hallowell International have units for sale, alongside their contractors. They work with contractors to ensure the infrastructure is there to support their product.

“Contractors that put in systems are an important component of any energy system. We help train installers working with Eastern Maine Community College,” said Hallowell. “Also, the components of the Acadia are of the highest quality and are easily accessible in the marketplace if they ever need replacement.”

Bangor Hydro has transformed their headquarters, becoming LEED certified with six Acadia units. Fort Dix Air Force base installed 2000 Acadia systems. “Infrastructure and insulation standards make the Acadia cost effective. The base choose the system because of the continual fluctuations with oil prices. Now they are not dependent on the grid. They can be self-contained, which is also better for national security,” said Hallowell.

“People still want automatic heat, but not oil. Acadia is model alternative. I advise people to look at the options out there. We are a smart choice. Geothermal is our competition. They cost $25,000 to $40,000 per unit to install. Then they have to dig trenches or wells on your property to find a good heat source. If they don’t dig down deep enough the first time, they dig again. It’s costly. One of our dealers, who also sells geothermal units, sold 125 Acadias, compared to three geothermal units over the same time period,” said Hallowell. “The Acadia costs from $10,000 to $14,000.”

The company offers health care and a collegial working atmosphere. Innovative ideas are encouraged and acted upon. Their business practices and work with the community won them a 2009 Governor’s Business Excellence Award.

The wheels in Hallowell’s mind constantly turn, thinking of new innovations and improvements for the company. With a Navy and manufacturing background, his operation is team oriented and meticulously organized. He gives responsibility to people he identifies as leaders. A walk around the company floor reveals an atmosphere where the workers take tremendous pride in their craftsmanship. Everyone works together equally.

Hallowell had help starting up the company with David Shaw, a cofounder from Shaw Industries. He gave the company needed expertise in the industry.

At 35, Duane Hallowell is fired up and ready to change the industry, which by all accounts he is accomplishing.

“I think we are a cool company. We change every time you come through the door. Currently we’re building a test facility, for our new products,” concluded the young entrepreneur.

Hallowell International has placed a calculator on their website to show anyone what their carbon footprint is. Visit: www.hallowellinternational.com.