Pioneer Press - U team offers upgrades for energy-thirsty vending machines

Pioneer Press: Story by Leslie Brooks Suzukamo

Excerpt: “The Clean Energy Resource Teams, a joint program of the university, the state and a host of environmental groups, is signing up businesses, schools and local governments to retrofit their cold-drink vending machines with a device that turns off the lights and puts the machine into “sleep” mode when no one is around. The device, called a VendingMiser, uses an infrared sensor to detect foot traffic. It also can measure air temperature and control the compressor in the refrigeration system. If the machine is located outdoors, the compressor might cycle off more in the winter and work a little harder in the summer to keep the drinks cold.”

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