Ice has the ability to store cold without the use of electricity.
This not only inherently saves power, but new, smarter refrigerators and air conditioners can take advantage of this capability to schedule their powered cooling demand for periods when electricity is less expensive, cleaner, and more efficient. They can also be used to capture “free electricity” such as when renewable sources like solar or wind are producing more power than is needed.
New Jersey-based Calmac uses the same principle for large scale air conditioning systems. Their system uses chillers to produce ice at night, when rates are lowest. Their customers then use that ice throughout the day to provide cooling via chilled-water heat exchanger coils.
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