by Brianna Crandall — March 11, 2015—CALMAC, a provider of ice-based energy storage systems used around the world, has just debuted a new energy bill analysis service for commercial building owners and facilities or energy managers. The free online service allows organizations to upload a copy of an electricity bill through the CALMAC Web site to be analyzed by a rate specialist.
The specialist will review the bill to identify savings that can be achieved by shifting a building’s cooling load to nighttime off-peak hours, when energy is in low demand and nearly 50 percent cheaper than peak daytime hours. With this new service, CALMAC is providing companies that have over 500,000 square feet of air-conditioned space a first-hand look at how they can benefit significantly from reducing peak electricity demand.
Since electricity is half price every night, ice storage technology can exploit that off-peak discount to save businesses money on energy bills. Click on image to enlarge.(Click on image to enlarge)
“A large majority of commercial building owners and managers do not fully understand how demand affects the bottom line of their electricity bill, and they mistakenly assume that energy for commercial buildings is priced the same as it is in residential buildings,” said Mark MacCracken, CEO of CALMAC. “Utility billing formats can obscure the value of consuming nighttime electricity, but with our new service, we offer a clear view into true electricity pricing. We factor in demand tariffs and other charges that aren’t clearly labeled or fully explained in a statement, and show how ice-based energy storage can benefit the bottom line.”
A common misconception is that if a building is not offered “time of use” pricing by the utility, then it is using a “flat rate,” implying that there is no difference between day and night costs, explains CALMAC. However, once demand penalties are exposed, the difference in the cost between nighttime versus daytime energy use reportedly becomes apparent. CALMAC’s new service clearly shows these differences, bringing a new level of transparency into energy charges.
Due to the fact that off-peak electricity prices have not increased in over 40 years when converted to today’s dollars, one of the most effective ways for a commercial building to save money is by using nighttime electricity discounts, says the company. CALMAC’s IceBank storage tanks take advantage of lower off-peak rates by permanently shifting the energy required for cooling operations to off-peak hours.
The tanks store energy at night, in the form of ice, when demand is low. The next day, when energy rates are at their highest, the system melts the ice to cool occupants, while at the same time lowering energy use during peak demand hours. By decoupling when cooling is made from when it is needed and maximizing utility rate structures, building owners and managers are able to gain more control over their utility bills and lower operating costs, says CALMAC.
In essence, buildings with energy storage are ready for whatever the future energy market may look like, concludes the company. To take advantage of this free service, visit CALMAC’s Lower Cooling Costs Web page.
As a leading manufacturer of ice-based energy storage systems, CALMAC’s proven technology is designed to lower cooling costs, support sustainable energy, and enable LEED certification. IceBank systems reportedly strengthen the smart grid, storing critical energy sources—including renewables like wind power—for later use. The company’s IceBank tanks are installed at over 4,000 locations worldwide. Widely recognized for promoting peak energy conservation and energy cost savings, CALMAC is a member of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the California Energy Storage Alliance (CESA), the International Living Future Institute, and the Energy Storage Association (ESA).
