May 5, 2006—The California Energy Commission intensified efforts to cut summer peak-energy demand when it recently approved Ice Energy’s energy-storage air conditioner under the Title 24 building energy code, said the company.
The Ice Bear system slashes peak electricity demand for air conditioning 95 percent, reduces electricity bills for businesses and homes, provides superior air-conditioned comfort and improves building energy efficiency, says Ice Energy.
State-certified energy modeling software shows the Ice Bear product is the most powerful compliance option available to California building designers to achieve compliance for light commercial and residential building permits.
Conventional air-conditioning units, even high-SEER models, don’t fare well under the energy code because they typically consume 5,000 watts to 10,000 watts of energy during peak hours. In contrast, Ice Energy’s products use only 300 watts of peak energy, Ice Energy says.
In October 2005, California officials revised the state’s Title 24 energy standards, described by the California Building Industry Association as “the toughest in the nation,” to more aggressively address California’s peak-energy demand crisis. The revised energy code focuses on air conditioners more than any other energy-consuming product, since air conditioners represent about 50 percent of peak summertime energy demand.
The Ice Bear module works with conventional rooftop and split-system air conditioners that cool almost all light-commercial and residential buildings. The Ice Bear module operates a standard condensing unit at night, when energy is readily available and less costly. The condensing unit freezes water in the Ice Bear insulated storage tank. The next day when the thermostat calls for cooling, standard refrigerant is circulated through coils in the ice. The chilled refrigerant then flows to the building’s air-conditioning system.
For more information, visit the Ice Energy Web site.
