Ice Energy Reduces Smog Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Slashing Peak Power Demand According to LA Study |
Study Finds NOx Reduction of Two Ice Bear Cooling Units Equivalent to
Taking One Car off the Road
WINDSOR, Colo., July 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Ice Energy(R), the premier
provider of efficient energy storage products for shifting air conditioning
demand, today announced the preliminary results of an environmental
assessment of the company's Ice Bear(R) system in the Los Angeles region.
Conducted by environmental consulting firm E3 Ventures, the independent
analysis indicates that the Ice Bear technology's peak shifting
capabilities drive significant reductions in harmful emissions including
greenhouse gases and nitrogen oxides. Preliminary results found that a
single Ice Bear unit used to provide nine tons of predictable cooling
capacity on a typical summer day in the LA region could reduce carbon
dioxide emissions by up to 12 pounds and nitrogen oxide emissions by up to
9.28 grams each day, equivalent to more than half the smog-producing
emissions of a typical California passenger car.
"The E3 Ventures study reconfirms that there are significant potential
environmental benefits to be gained by simply shifting the time of day that
electricity is generated and consumed. By reducing the demand for peak
daytime electricity, Ice Energy provides a simple, immediate means for
cities and regions to capture those benefits," said Frank Ramirez, chief
executive officer of Ice Energy.
"The Ice Bear's ability to store power generated during nighttime
off-peak periods for use during the daytime peak demand generally shifts
the demand for electricity away from "dirtier" generation sources to
"cleaner" sources available during the night and can produce significant
reductions of harmful air pollutants, said David Johnson of E3 Ventures.
"Although these preliminary study results are focused on the LA area, we
have found even more substantial benefits in a more rigorous study in the
Sacramento area and would expect to find comparable environmental benefits
in many other grid- constrained regions across the country."
Ice Energy's proprietary Ice Bear technology integrates with
off-the-shelf commercial air conditioners to shift 95 percent of the power
needed for indoor cooling to off-peak hours. The Ice Bear product
efficiently makes and stores ice at night when outdoor temperatures are
lower and electricity supply is more plentiful. The stored ice is then used
to cool the air conditioner's refrigerant each day. This keeps the building
cool and eases the strain on the grid throughout the hottest hours and
periods of high peak demand. Leveraging the thermodynamic advantages of
operating during cooler nighttime temperatures and Ice Energy's
highly-efficient patented refrigeration system for making and melting ice,
the Ice Bear unit consumes equal or less electricity than a comparable
conventional air conditioning system.
The Ice Bear unit's air pollution reduction capabilities can be
attributed to two major benefits associated with using off-peak rather than
peak electricity in the Los Angeles region. First, the utility's base-load
generation facilities used for producing electricity at night are
fundamentally less polluting than the auxiliary generation sources used to
meet periods of high demand. As a result, the Ice Bear units consume an
energy mix equating to up to three times fewer emissions than conventional
air conditioning systems. Second, high temperatures cause more electricity
to be lost through transmission across the grid, sometimes as much as 15%
on extremely hot days. By consuming power that is transmitted during cooler
periods, the Ice Bear unit reduces waste of electricity and associated
emissions. These two factors are particularly beneficial for the Los
Angeles area, which suffers from frequent atmospheric inversions that trap
pollution near the ground, thus exacerbating local smog levels. By
consuming off-peak electricity, the Ice Bear reduces the amount of
emissions contributing to pollution levels during those periods of poor
atmospheric dispersion.
Ice Energy is currently working with 15 cities and municipalities in
California to address peak energy demand. In 2005, the California Energy
Commission approved the Ice Bear 50 module as an optional compliance
measure for the California's Title 24 building energy efficiency standards.
About Ice Energy, Inc.
Ice Energy(R) is an energy technology company focused on energy storage
and advanced cooling and refrigeration products and technologies. The
company manufactures and markets a new Ice Storage Air Conditioner (ISAC)
product line for residential and commercial applications that addresses the
increasing demand for electricity. Ice Energy's products shift the largest
component of residential and commercial peak demand -- air conditioning --
from expensive "on-peak" times of the day to "off-peak" periods, when
energy is less expensive and less polluting. Recently approved as an
optional compliance measure for California's Title 24 building energy
efficiency standards, the Ice Bear(R) system provides superior cooling
comfort while significantly reducing the cost of energy. For more
information visit http://www.ice-energy.com or call 877-5-ICEBEAR.
Ice Energy and Ice Bear are registered trademarks of Ice Energy, Inc.
About E3 Ventures
William G. Rosenberg, former Assistant Administrator in the Office of
Air and Radiation in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and
other key former EPA regulators and professional staff organized E3
VENTURES, INC. in 1993. E3 Ventures works closely with clients to develop
strategic positions that go beyond compliance with environmental
regulations to promote proactive approaches to address key environmental
issues by building on the client's corporate goals and product lines and
new or emerging technologies. E3 Ventures encourages approaches which
emphasize environmental and technology leadership and the adoption of
market-based strategies in assisting companies to develop strategic
environmental policies that meet core business objectives and public policy
goals in ways that that can be supported by a broad range of interests,
including environmental regulators, progressive companies, and
environmental advocates.
SOURCE Ice Energy
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CONTACT:
Rosalind Jackson of Antenna Group,
+1-415-977-1923, rosalind@antennagroup.com, for Ice Energy
