Honorable Mentions

Wave Energy-Harnessing Device

Michael Raftery

Stevens Institute of Technology

Hoboken, NJ

This device harnesses ocean waves to generate electricity. The advantage over existing technologies is a patent-pending spring-rewind cable reel system. The cable reel system does not have limited stroke like the existing piston, linear magnet, and oscillating water column systems. A buoy or any other floating object can be used on the sea surface to drive the system. The generator housing can be lowered to the sea floor, where it is safe from storms. The system is modular so thousands of units can be placed offshore, out of sight from the beach, and produce enough power to replace nuclear or conventional fossil fuel power plants in average seas.

For more information, contact the inventor at: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Danny Blount

Sulphur Springs, TX

Clothes dryers literally pump the heated and cooled air out of a home. The dryer sits inside the home and intake air enters the dryer from within the home. The exhaust goes out of the home, pumping 12,000 cubic feet per hour of conditioned air out of the home.

This invention is a dryer design with an air intake inlet, which would take intake air from the exterior of the home. An internal duct inside the dryer takes the air from the inlet to the inside of the drying system. By taking intake air from outside of the structure, the dryer would no longer be pumping out the conditioned air from within the home. This is a “green” innovation that will greatly reduce the energy consumption needed to heat and cool the home. The system has been tested in very cold weather, as well as in hot, rainy weather with humidity at 100%.

Transportation Category Winner, "Create the Future" 2007 Design Contest