CALMAC, a company founded in Englewood, New Jersey in 1947, specializes in producing Off-Peak Cooling (OPC) systems, which store thermal energy for air conditioning buildings. Their thermal energy storage system is called the Icebank.

CALMAC's Icebank stores thermal energy from the chiller in the form of ice. The chiller can be operated during off-peak hours, since the ice can be used for air conditioning the next day. This process has environmental benefits, such as fewer refrigerants and lessened demand on power plants, as well as cost benefits.

CALMAC's systems can be used in many applications, including new construction, renovations and retrofits, commercial buildings, hospitals, schools, and so forth.

The Icebank systems are sold in many sizes, ranging from 45 to over 500 ton-hours.

Why Is Thermal Energy Storage Green?

OPC via thermal energy storage is “green” because the chiller is used during off-peak hours to charge the Icebank, which creates ice for use the following day.

This process results in multiple environmental benefits, such as:

• During off-peak hours, electricity is produced using cleaner baseload plants - resulting in cleaner emissions.

• The chiller is smaller, meaning that fewer refrigerants are needed.

• Using electricity during off-peak hours reduces the need for building more power plants. Also, energy storage makes renewable energy more viable.

Icebank: Lower Cooling Costs

Aside from environmental benefits, thermal energy storage makes cooling buildings more affordable.

First, since Icebank thermal energy storage extends the chiller’s hours and reduces its load, the chiller can be 50 to 60% smaller. This reduces the upfront cost of the cooling system.

More importantly, since the cost of electricity is cheaper during off-peak hours, the Icebank reduces cooling expenses. According to Calmac, the Icebank can save up to 40% on cooling costs.

 

The CALMAC Icebank has been used for many LEED projects. See CALMAC's listing of green buildings with ice thermal energy storage.

According to the LEED New Construction rating system, the Icebank may help to earn the following credits:

• Energy and Atmosphere (EA) Prerequisite 2, Minimum Energy Performance and EA Credit 1, Optimize Energy Performance:

The energy performance for these credits are calculated based on energy cost. Since CALMAC's Icebank lessens cooling costs by using off-peak electricity, it can help to meet the prerequisite or earn points for EA Credit 1.

• EA Prerequisite 3, Fundamental Refrigerant Management:

The CALMAC Icebank has been used without the use of refrigerants, meeting this prerequisite.

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