Webley sells Petaluma tech startup

Petaluma tech startup Innovative Labs, which makes next-generation air purifiers, is being acquired by a Canadian private equity firm for more than $5.4 million, the two companies said Monday.

The cash-and-stock deal will help the Petaluma business grow, said John Webley, the Telecom Valley entrepreneur who founded Innovative Labs in 2007.

“That's the whole idea,” said Webley, a technology veteran who led Advanced Fibre Communications and Turin Networks. “The Canadians are getting very aggressive in acquiring green technology.”

Thoroughbred Capital, an Ontario-based company on Canada's TSX stock exchange, said it is buying the Petaluma business with about $3.5 million in stock and nearly $2 million in cash from a private placement.

Thoroughbred chief executive Michael Inskip said Monday he can't talk about the deal until it closes. But Webley said Innovative Labs will stay in Petaluma and keep its current staff of eight employees.

“This will let us ramp up the business,” he said.

Innovative Labs started shipping its “Sonoma Breeze” indoor air purifiers last year. They use ultraviolet light and photocatalytic technology to destroy airborne contaminants, including bacteria, viruses and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as formaldehyde.

The problem of formaldehyde and other chemical vapors drew attention after Hurricane Katrina, when displaced residents in government-issued trailers became sick from the fumes.

Last year, the federal government listed formaldehyde as a carcinogen, and said it can be found at unsafe levels in building materials, medical labs, hair salons and mortuaries.

Those are some of the markets for Innovative Labs' air purifiers, Webley said. The company's technology was a top performer in tests by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, NASA, FEMA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, he said.

The system doesn't produce ozone and uses sensors to monitor air quality, reporting real-time VOC concentrations on an LED display.

The Sonoma Breeze units range in size from a desktop model to larger ones that can purify spaces up to 1,000 square feet. They sell from about $200 to $2,000.

After a career in telecom, Webley turned his attention to green technology. He headed Novato green engineering startup PAX Streamline before launching Innovative Labs.

The deal with Thoroughbred Capital will help take Innovative Labs to the next level, Webley said.

“We showed the potential for the company,” he said.

Do Hypoallergenic dogs or cats exist?

Hypoallergenic dogs and cats are often discussed in the media,” Dr. Peter Ranta, our local allergist explains.

Dogs and cats both cause allergies by way of proteins in their saliva and urine. Dander carries these proteins and helps cause the allergy symptoms. “Therefore, a truly hypoallergenic dog or cat does not exist” he states.

However, there are certain ‘hypoallergenic’ dog breeds that produce less dander and shed less. These include: Bedlington Terrier, Bichon Frise, Chinese Crested, Irish Springer Spaniel, Kerry Blue Terrier, Maltese, Poodles, Portuguese Water Dog, Schnauzers, Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, and Xoloitzcuintli dogs. Some breeders have created ‘Labradoodles’ and ‘Goldendoodles’, which are a cross between a Poodle and a Labrador Retriever or a Golden Retriever. However, these designer dogs have a lot of variability since there is “no guarantee that a litter will produce equal Poodle coats,” per the American Kennel Club. Small dog size may be beneficial due to smaller body surface area and reduced production of dander. Female dogs may produce less allergens. Dogs that bark a lot may produce more saliva proteins.
In regards to cats, less allergenic cats are thought to be female, adult, and short-haired. ‘Hypoallergenic’ cats include the Devon Rex cat and the Sphinx cats according to some sources.

Dr. Ranta outlines some important steps in reducing pet allergen levels, which include: 1) Bathing your pet weekly, which reduces dander levels, 2) Keeping your pet outside (Shelter needed in Michigan), 3) Choosing carpet-free flooring, or shampooing your carpet regularly, 4) Consider choosing a non-furry pet: turtles, frogs, lizards, or fish, 5) Using vent filters in furnaces, 6) Using allergy medications, which can provide temporary relief, and 7) Consider starting allergy shots, a proven method of treating and eliminating dog and cat allergies. Dr. Ranta does not recommend purchasing an Air Purifiers since most of them produce Ozone, which is considered an air pollutant inside the home.

“With proper steps and proper medical treatment, most people can continue to enjoy their pets, even if they have pet allergies” Dr. Ranta notes.

Air Purifier Presented in New Zealand

Comprising of the Emerald Condenser and the Emerald Evaporator, the new split system has been engineered to use R410A environmentally safe refrigerant. Fully compliant with International green gas standards, the thermodynamic properties of R410A enabled Dometic engineers to increase system efficiency by using fewer amps per capacity.

Based on Dometic’s cutting-edge air conditioning technology, the systems have been designed and refined to maximise performance and durability. The Emerald Split System Series provides increased efficiency by using fewer amps per capacity and offers a refined, quieter system that maximizes performance and durability. The system provides up to 17.5% more cooling capacity and its rotary compressor reduces amperage by up to 40% compared to older counterparts.

The In-Duct Breathe Easy Air Purifier, which was awarded the highly acclaimed IBEX Innovation Award in the Mechanical Systems category at IBEX 2010, is specifically designed to work within the ducting of a yacht’s air conditioning system. Operating silently, it purifies and cleanses air using Photocatalytic Nano-Mesh Technology with UV light. Each time the air circulates it is further purified.

The unit takes up little space and if retrofitted will require no alterations to be made to the vessel’s existing air conditioning unit. There is no need for any mounting hardware as a section of the A/C ducting is cut out and the circular In-Duct Breathe Easy tube simply inserted, then the ducting is reattached to it. The Breathe Easy is available in sizes to match all standard duct diameters.

The In-Duct Breathe Easy has been proven by independent test consultancy, Environmental Diagnostics Laboratory to reduce the presence of harmful mould spores and other contaminants and odours by up to 100%. Inhaled mould is acknowledged by leading experts as a key contributor to health issues such as eye and respiratory tract irritation, sneezing and sore throats.

He added that if either parent suffered from Asthma

According to Dr. Bassam Mahboub, Vice President of the Emirates Allergy & Respiratory Society (EARS), and Associate Professor at Sharjah University, key triggers for Asthma and breathing allergies in the UAE are mould, pollen and dust mite allergens - coughs, colds, sneezing, watery eyes and nasal congestion are commonly caused by airborne allergens and sufferers are often unaware that these are symptoms of allergies.

He added that if either parent suffered from Asthma or breathing allergies, then children were more likely to be susceptible, and that from research conducted across the Gulf and Near East, 52% of children who suffered from Asthma missed school in the preceding year.

Mr. Mihir Patel, CEO of Amancorp, exclusive regional distributors for Airfree® Air Purifiers, a European brand globally renowned for its simple, effective and maintenance-free air purification technology, said: "As residents of the Gulf, we suffer a disproportionately higher rate of breathing allergies and asthma according to the Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA), a World Health Organisation initiative. Interestingly, UAE research suggests that age (the younger the person), sex (females more than males), ethnicity (Arabs more than other races) and education levels (the more educated) all play a part in increasing one's vulnerability to breathing allergies."

Mr. Patel averred that although the UAE Government has implemented multiple standards for Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) as part of the UAE National Strategy & Action Plan for Environmental Health, Health Authority of Abu Dhabi (HAAD) Guidelines, Environmental Authority of Abu Dhabi Strategy (EAD), Abu Dhabi Environment, Health & Safety Centre (EHSMS), Dubai Municipality Building Control standards, and the Dubai Green Building regulations, much can still be done to make for optimum conditions, especially given that most people spend more than 90% of their day indoors, particularly in hot, arid environments like in the UAE.

"Improved Indoor Air Quality can improve health, concentration, productivity and sleep, and research conducted by the International Centre for Indoor environment & Energy (ICIEE) showed up to 35% improvement in mental arithmetic, comprehension and problem solving ability in school children with an improvement in Indoor Air Quality." Mr. Patel revealed.

Mr. Patel said that in the present climate, and given the fact that we take in as much as 10,000 litres of air per day, the need to improve Indoor Air Quality is becoming increasingly apparent and important. Reduction in ambient fine particulate air pollution in the USA in the last 30 years has resulted in an increase in life expectancy by as much as 15%, and it is clear today that we need to invest in air purifiers to improve the general quality of our lives. He suggested that rather like bottled drinking water was deemed a luxury two decades ago, but has become a daily essential to life today, pure air is already a premium commodity in short-supply.

Consumers in the US lead the way in terms of air purifier purchases - the US market is worth an estimated $221m a year, in a $1.4bn air quality industry.

Health experts are increasingly advising that in hot & humid environments like the UAE, where there is an over-dependence on air-conditioning 24 hours a day for 365 days a year, and not much attention is paid to cleaning air ducts and filters - preserving Indoor Air Quality is the need of the hour.