DENVER - Residential thermal energy storage (TES) systems have been discussed since the 1970s and 80s. Is the time right for another push in the direction of residential-light commercial cooling systems?
A very large audience turned out to at least learn about them at the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) 2005 Annual Meeting in Denver. Doug Hittle, Ph.D., of Colorado State University, spoke on refrigerant-based residential energy storage. The system he described is designed for residential and light commercial applications from 3 to 10 tons.