Creepily enough, Wal-Mart is the largest private user of energy in the world. So they're pretty interested in using less energy, especially when it gets them good publicity at sites like EcoGeek.
Well, they've done it again. At a new store in Las Vegas Wal-Mart has installed advanced, low-energy roof-top fluid coolers. These use the surrounding air to cool water, which is then pumped into pipes below the store's floor. The resulting cooling completely eliminates the need for air conditioning and, in Las Vegas, that's a huge amount of a store's energy cost.
One problem though, Las Vegas doesn't really have very much water to spare and, unfortunately, these fluid coolers rely on evaporating away many gallons of hot water to leave the cold water, for cooling, behind.
In hot areas with plenty of water, this seems like it would make a lot of sense. But in Las Vegas, where they're pretty certain that there won't be any water left in ten or twenty years, this might not be the best solution.
Via the AP
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written by Steve, March 19, 2008
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written by Shaun, March 19, 2008
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiller
Also, just because water is evaporating does not necessarily mean it is an open system and that it drifts off in the atmosphere. Of course even if it was, it would fall as rain or condense as dew or fog somewhere.
I'm putting a reverse cycle water chiller from UNICO in my new home. When coupled with their high velocity mini-duct system it is supposed to be quite an efficient HVAC system.
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written by Nelson, March 19, 2008
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cooling_tower
What sounds new is using chilled water to cool the floors. This technology is probably limited to very dry climates since condensation could form on the cooled floor in more humid climates.
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written by wesley bruce, March 19, 2008
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