Two Bracknell businesses and a local school are benefiting from new technology to help them keep cool, thanks to an innovative project from Southern Electric Power Distribution (SEPD).
The installation of this new equipment, known as Ice Bears, is being funded by SEPD as part of its £30m Thames Valley Vision project, and has seen the hi-tech kit fitted in the Bracknell offices of Honeywell and Towry and also Ranelagh School. The Ice Bears freeze large blocks of water during the night, which are then used during the day to cool the air in a building.
Charlie Edwards from SEPD said that using the Ice Bears is a great example of how innovative thinking can help both customers and electricity distributors: “We’re committed to giving our customers the best service possible, and the Ice Bears can help us manage the local network better by reducing demand at peak times.”
“It’s not just electricity distribution companies that can benefit,” adds Charlie, “the Ice Bears can also benefit customers whose tariffs offer them cheap electricity through the night.”
Thames Valley Vision is the £30m project led by SEPD, and its aim is to get a better understanding of how customers use electricity and how this can help electricity distributors manage demand across the network. As part of the project, SEPD has been trialling new technologies in homes and businesses in the Bracknell area.
David Dean, Facilities Specialist at Towry, has been impressed with the Ice Bear since it was installed in the company’s staff gym: “We’ve been involved with the Thames Valley Vision project for the past three years, and so when we were asked to take part in the Ice Bears trial we jumped at the chance. Since it has been installed the Ice Bear has made a big difference for our gym users. There’s a lot more cool air being distributed round the room, and the feedback we’ve had has been really positive.”