Victorville tests cool new technology that could slash energy bills

VICTORVILLE, CALIFORNIA - The traditional air conditioner is the object of a new twist in energy-saving technology that could slash electrical consumption by as much as 95 percent.

Officials at Victorville City Hall are running one of Ice Energy's cooling units as part of a free demonstration project. After about three months, the city will look at the energy savings and may order three to four units for city buildings, said Jon Gargan, Victorville's director of community services.

The city of Anaheim is also participating in the pilot project.

"We are always open to new technology, to finding a way to conserve energy and save money any way we can," Gargan said.

The source of this new "ice" technology is a water storage unit that attaches to an air conditioner, saving energy, according to Ice Energy, based in Windsor, Colorado.

The Ice Energy device includes a storage unit containing water is attached to the air conditioner. During the night, when the air conditioner is working most efficiently, the water is frozen. Then during the day, that ice provides a cool environment for the air conditioner to transfer heat from the building, increasing the efficiency of the air conditioner during hot hours, when demand for electricity peaks.

The company estimates the unit reduces the amount of energy an air conditioner requires by 95 percent during the daytime hours, said Randy Zwetzig, the company's vice president of business development.

Ice Energy markets to custom home and businesses but is developing a line of median-income residential products, Zwetzig said.

Typically, a business customer can save about $1,500 a year with each unit, according to Zwetzig. The company estimates the homeowner of a 3,000- to 4,000-square-foot house will save an average of $200 a month in energy bills during the months June through September. Products range in cost, depending on the application, from $8,000 to $18,000 a unit.