Phase Change Materials from Fats and Oils

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: A The price of fats and oils are depressed due to an over-supply created by recent increases in palm oil production. B New approaches are needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to reduce the cost of air conditioning for buildings. A This project will demonstrate the conversion of fats and oils into phase change materials typically sold at prices over $0.50 per pound. This is more than double the going rate for beef, lard, and soybean oil. B These phase change materials will be used to reduce air conditioning costs by methods referred to as "peak load shifting" of electricity consumption. This will result in saving consumers money and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.