Executives at EcoQuest International, the Greeneville-based manufacturing and marketing company that employs more than 450 people, are excited about a new product they say will be manufactured here starting this summer.

It is being called PowerwoRx.

ActivTek, EcoQuest's commercial division, is promoting PowerwoRx as the company's "first product in a new line that will fight rising energy costs."

A company press release says, "The PowerwoRx power management system increases the efficiency of a home's electrical system.

"Some are calling this new product a home-energy security system that provides electrical surge protection and electrical noise filtration, with the added benefit of increased electrical efficiency. That provides real energy savings," states a company press release.

EcoQuest President Mike Letts said, "PowerwoRx provides three key benefits -- energy savings, equipment protection, and electrical noise filtration."

He explained, "Line noise causes lots of damage to modern televisions, computers, and 21st century electronics. The benefits of PowerwoRx go far beyond energy savings.

"But with the always rising cost of energy at home, PowerwoRx provides real energy savings.

"That reduces the amount of power drawn from the utility by using capacitors to store electricity that is usually lost.

"The power management system in the PowerwoRx supplies that stored electricity back to the system, causing a decrease in demand and less electricity to be used."

A company press release said, "Testing indicates that some PowerwoRx users have seen 5 to 25 percent in reduced consumption. Average savings are in the 8 to 15 percent range.

"The same power management system in PowerwoRx provides spike and surge suppression for the home, a feature that protects appliances and electronics from voltage spikes.

"The unit also offers harmonic filtration, which filters harmonics and other high frequency current from the electrical environment."

Rick DeMarco, vice president and general manager of ActivTek, EcoQuest's marketing division, displayed one of the PowerworRx units during an interview this week. It weighs less than 15 pounds.

He said sales efforts, which are just starting, will be directed at corporations such as large-scale real estate developers as well as individual homeowners.

DeMarco said the equipment has been developed by a Nashville-based company he declined to name with which EcoQuest has become a partner, the partnership having been signed in late March.

With the increasing concern throughout the United States about rising energy costs, DeMarco said, it is timely to be launching a product that he said within two to three years could save a typical home enough in energy costs to cover its $599 price.

Mike Jackson, EcoQuest's CEO, said in a press release, "I am thrilled to be able to add this potentially huge product to our Greeneville manufacturing operation.

"Part of our mission has always been to provide good jobs to our home town. PowerwoRx can help do this.

"We have already sold out of our first big order, and can see PowerwoRx becoming a major business for EcoQuest."