November 10, 2003—The Colorado Governor’s Office of Energy Management and Conservation (OEMC) recently partnered with Idalex, an energy research and development firm, to demonstrate a new cooling system method at Mount Saint Vincent School in Denver. This system, called the Coolerado Cooler, uses 75 percent less energy than traditional air conditioning or evaporative cooler systems, and does not use any chemical refrigerants.
The school is a historical building that lacks central air conditioning. The students and teachers on the third floor can experience very warm temperatures. The system is located in the building’s attic, and works by rejecting heat from one location where it is not wanted and transfers it to another, just like refrigeration. Fresh outside air enters a series of heat exchangers. These heat exchangers reject the heat providing cold dry air to the rooms. The heat exchangers consist of special cellulose and a blended fiber paper, which is coated on one side with plastic. A fan to move the air is the only item that draws power in this system.
The system stabilizes rooms to a desirable temperature of 74 degrees Fahrenheit. It replaces window air conditioner units and room evaporative coolers, which can be noisier and add humidity to rooms.
