CALMAC’s Energy Storage Tanks Allow Alachua County Library HQ to Close the Book on High-Priced Energy
Ice-based energy storage technology cuts costly daytime energy demand
in half
CALMAC®,
a leader in energy
storage systems, today announced that the Alachua County Library
Headquarters in Gainesville, Florida is using its IceBank® energy
storage tanks to reduce operating costs and save taxpayer money.
CALMAC’s technology enables the 80,000 square foot library, which was
built in 1992, to shift cooling load so that it uses nighttime energy
that is 68 percent cheaper than the energy that would be used for
creating instantaneous cooling during daytime hours. Additionally,
thermal storage allows monthly demand (kW), and the resulting demand
charges, to be cut in half. This is significant since 40 percent of the
headquarters’ total electric costs for the year can be directly
attributed to cooling the structure and the facility’s power provider
implements a demand charge that equates to roughly $9.25 in extra fees
per kW during peak demand hours.
The decision to install CALMAC’s IceBank technology occurred in
conjunction with the decision to replace the library’s antiquated
chiller. By using 125 kW of CALMAC’s energy storage solution, and
retrofitting the building with less heat intensive lighting, the
facility was able to downsize its new chiller from the previous 195-ton
unit to an 150-ton unit. The combined upgrades are on track to save the
library district $40,000 annually in energy costs.
CALMAC’s tanks allow a building to decouple when cooling is made from
when it is needed. Ice is created overnight during off-peak hours and
stored in the thermal energy storage tanks. The next day, the ice is
used to cool occupants when energy costs are at their highest.
“We have complete control and flexibility over how and when the ice is
used,” said Dan Whitcraft, CFM, Alachua County Library District’s
Facilities & Safety Services Administrator. “The tanks complete the
charging processes at 5:50 a.m. and begin to come online at 6:30 a.m.
During the hot summer months, the melting ice is able to handle 70
percent of the day’s cooling load with the chiller handling the
remaining 30 percent. We expect to only use ice, meaning no chiller, to
cool the building during the winter months when outdoor temperatures are
lower.”
The life expectancy of CALMAC’s tanks is 40 years and they only require
minimal maintenance. The efficiency of CALMAC’s solution will never
degrade over time. This makes the technology a prudent investment that
can provide continuous savings for the life of the system.
“It is encouraging to see the level of interest that the Alachua County
Library District headquarters has received from other nearby
businesses,” said Mark MacCracken, CEO of CALMAC. “Ice-based energy
storage is the low-hanging fruit in energy cost reduction that can pay
enormous dividends. Even if a building is using what is considered a
‘flat rate,’ the daytime energy is usually twice as expensive as the
nighttime equivalent due to demand tariffs. Once you understand these
price differences, the value in storing cooling during off-peak hours
for later use becomes clear.”
Next week, January 25-27 2016, CALMAC will be featuring the Ice
Completion Module for “Ice Made Easy” energy storage at the AHR Expo in
Orlando, Florida (booth #4004). The company’s CEO, Mark MacCracken, will
be presenting at the 2016 ASHRAE Winter Conference, which is held
concurrently with AHR Expo. The session, titled Integrating
Cutting-Edge Technology: Renewable Energy and Thermal Energy Storage,
will be presented on Sunday, January 24 starting at 1:30 pm ET.
About CALMAC:
At CALMAC, we’re changing the world, transforming the way buildings use
energy for cooling. As the world’s leading manufacturer of ice-based
energy storage systems, CALMAC’s proven technology lowers cooling costs,
supports sustainable energy and enables LEED certification. IceBank
systems strengthen the smart grid storing critical energy sources -
including renewables like wind power - for later use. Our IceBank tanks
are installed at over 4,000 locations worldwide. Widely recognized for
promoting peak energy conservation and energy cost savings CALMAC is a
member of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
and the New
Buildings Institute.
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160121005776/en/
Copyright Business Wire 2016
Source: Business Wire
(January 21, 2016 - 9:23 AM EST)
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