Industrialist hopes to slash AC bills, help environment

Amos Snow III said his back surgery last year turned out to be a business blessing in disguise.

The president and chief executive officer of Bois D'Arc International said based on his calculations, an idea he fine-tuned while off the job, could make a $17 billion impact on the national economy. It could also save individual consumers hundreds of dollars on air-conditioning electric bills, Snow said.

He drew on his expertise as an engineer and operator of a company that manufactures heat-exchange coils for large commercial and industrial heating and air-conditioning units and heater cores for motor homes.



"I needed something to occupy my mind after my back surgery," he said. What he came up with is a new product based on existing technology in the air-conditioning industry.

"This is nothing new," he said of the theory behind his invention called Add-A-Cool. The product's patent is pending and it is going though independent testing at LeTourneau University. It'salso being put to use in the industry and government use in Longview, Houston and Shreveport.

Add-A-Cool is designed to increase the efficiency of air-conditioning condensing units, Snow said. It works by a process he calls sub-cooling, which cools the refrigerant going into the system by up to 20 degrees.

Richard Baney, an engineering professor at LeTourneau University, said while he has not run through the thermo-dynamic details of Snow's product, it has potential and is worth putting through the testing process.

"Just looking at it, there's a good possibility there will be some benefit to consumers," Baney said. "The question is whether that benefit is going to be feasible from a consumer's standpoint."

Paul Boggs, LeTourneau's research administrator, said he anticipates the university's testing would start by the end of April and will be done on campus.

Ray Bostick, operations maintenance manager for the city of Longview's Parks Department, said the city plans to field test Snow's product.

"In my opinion, in theory it makes sense," said Bostick, who is licensed in Texas for heating and air-conditioning work. He said the city is trying to find two identical systems and install Add-A-Cool on one.

Bostick said governmental entities throughout Texas are under legislative directive to explore emerging technologies to reduce energy consumption and related emissions.

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At a glance

What: Add-A-Cool, a new product being manufactured and marketed by Longview's Bois D'Arc International Inc.

Why: Inventor Amos Snow III said the product boosts the efficiency of air-conditioning systems and saves consumers money

Where: Company is located 205 Timpson St., Longview

Cost: Residential-sized units run about $350 installed

Contact: Bois d'Arc International, (903) 758-2647 or 1 (800) 752-7135; www.boisdarccoils.com