Ice-Powered Air Conditioner Could Cut Costs

by Martin LaMonica ZDNet News, 1 Aug 2006 Can an ice-powered air conditioner take the edge off scorching summer electrical bills? A young company has developed an energy-storage system that uses a tank of water to cut down on the power required for air conditioning by 30 percent. The company's, roughly the size and shape of a squat refrigerator, are an adjunct to standard centralized air-conditioning units. Rather than run AC compressors during the hottest time of the day, they cool water during the night, turning it to ice. During the day, the ice cools the refrigerant as it passes through the tank, lowering the temperature inside. This process of shifting the time that the AC unit works knocks electricity usage and costs down significantly. Read more