The University of California has licensed evaporative air-conditioning technology invented at UC Davis to Octus Energy of Davis. The license provides Octus with exclusive patent rights to the "Wickool" technology, with full rights to sublicense it.

Wickool was developed by the UC Davis Western Cooling Efficiency Center and is currently being tested in rooftop HVAC units in big-box stores.

Wickool makes use of the condensate water that is normally wasted from existing roof-top packaged air conditioners to improve their cooling efficiency, said Mark Modera, director of the center. It can be added as a retrofit accessory and avoids the need for condensate piping.

Octus plans to complete commercial testing of the technology and then commence sales, marketing and further development.

Wickool's development was funded by the Public Interest Energy Research program of the California Energy Commission.

The Western Cooling Efficiency Center was established in 2008 to help cooling-unit manufacturers deliver better products, and to help building owners install and use those products in their new and existing low-rise, nonresidential buildings (such as suburban retail and office buildings). It is supported by industry affiliates, including utilities, manufacturers, contractors and the California Energy Commission and is a component of the UC Davis Energy Efficiency Center, established in 2006.