Ice batteries are helping buildings beat the heat and save money

In a nutshell: Most commercial buildings with climate control needs utilize chillers during the warm months. These large systems cool down water and pump it throughout a building to regulate temperatures. This works well enough when electricity costs are low but when they spike during peak usage hours, operators end up paying a lot more out of pocket. Now, building managers across the country have turned to ice to help cut electricity cost. When electricity costs are low, vats of water are frozen to make ice. As energy costs rise during the day, chillers are powered down and the ice is used to cool the water circulating through the building. Simply rinse and repeat each night when electricity costs drop. These ice batteries effectively allow operators to shift when their buildings are using energy, drawing from the power grid only when electricity is cheapest. According to The Washington Post, large building operators can save hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. To date, ice ... Read full article.