Calmac launches energy bill analysis service
Calmac debuted a new energy bill analysis service for commercial building owners and facility or energy managers. The free online service allows organizations to upload a copy of an electricity bill through the Calmac website 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% cheaper than peak daytime hours. With this new service, Calmac is providing companies that have over 500,000 sq ft of air-conditioned space a first-hand look at how they can benefit from reducing peak electricity demand.
“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.”
According to Calmac, 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.” This implies that there is no difference between day and night costs. However, once demand penalties are exposed, the difference in the cost between nighttime vs. daytime energy usage becomes apparent. Calmac’s new service aims to show these differences and bring 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, Calmac officials believe one of the most effective ways for a commercial building to save money is by utilizing nighttime electricity discounts. 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 usage 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 have more control over their utility bills and lower operating costs.
For more information on the free service, visit www.calmac.com/lower-cooling-costs.
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