The chip was not cooled by any artificial cooling equipment, Craig Barrett, Intel's CEO, said at the press conference after.

CNN: Intel demos Pentium 4 at 2GHz

So to fix the problem, the town could have required the company to buy expensive cooling equipment, but that would have hurt the local economy.

WHITEHOUSE: President Obama Speaks at Conference on Conservation

The simple act of retrofitting these buildings to make them more energy-efficient --insulation new windows and doors, insulation, roofing, sealing leaks, modernizing heating and cooling equipment -- is one of the fastest, easiest and cheapest things we can do to put Americans back to work while saving families money and reducing harmful emissions.

WHITEHOUSE: Retrofitting for Energy Efficiency and New Jobs

Using the agency's own data, the scientists group said 14 serious incidents, ranging from broken or impaired safety equipment to a cooling water leak, were reported last year.

NPR: Nuclear Chief: US Plants Safer After Japan Crisis

Hours earlier, the plant operator switched off a reactor cooling system after discovering rats near critical equipment.

BBC: IAEA calls for improvements at Japan's Fukushima plant

In some cases, cooling technology becomes a necessary part of an equipment because the power losses are dissipated as heat.

FORBES: Google-backed Transphorm Raises $25M For Power Conversion Tech

But that optimism may be cooling off and we need look no further than two big name equipment manufacturers to see it unfolding: Caterpillar ( CAT) and Deere ( DE).

FORBES: Titan In The Line Of Fire As Mining Optimism Cools

Craig Funke, chief executive and part owner of Equiguard, which provides warranties to the heating and cooling industries, says geothermal units' failure rates, including both equipment failure and bungled installs, are equal to those of conventional equipment.

FORBES: Magazine Article