Technology FAQ
FAQ Topics
Benefits
Why does electricity and cost savings vary with COOLNOMIX?
There are many factors that drive the level of electricity savings, including your existing DX system efficiency, thermostat (or building automation system) settings, hours of operation (occupied hours), indoor demand, and the local climate zone.
The percentage of cost savings can be lower than the percentage of electricity savings depending upon whether a business is charged just for consumption (per kWh) or whether a business has both a peak demand charge (per peak kW) and a consumption charge (per kWh). COOLNOMIX reduces electricity consumption but currently does not have a demand response capability. If you do not understand how you are billed today for electricity, ask your utility to walk you your business rate structure.
What are the conditions when businesses obtain the most rapid return on investment (ROI)?
A climate or use case that requires year-round cooling and a high electricity rate are the two most obvious conditions. In addition, use cases where there is a high degree of variable demand and DX cooling systems that are older / lower efficiency to begin with.
If my DX cooling system has a very high SEER/EER rating, will I still get the benefits from installing COOLNOMIX?
Yes. There are COOLNOMIX installations on high efficiency DX systems that are realizing 20% or higher energy savings.
If I have advanced controls (e.g., BMS/BAS), will I still get the benefits from installing COOLNOMIX?
Yes. BMS/BAS do not measure the energy efficiency of the compressor, nor do they optimize compressor run-time.
Compressor Health and Energy Consumption
Will there be more energy consumed as a result of more frequent cycling of the compressor, since significant energy is consumed during the startup time period?
The startup period for a compressor is less than 1 second. This can be confirmed by putting an energy monitor capable of capturing and reporting amp draw in 1 second intervals.
Will installing a COOLNOMIX device void my DX cooling system product warranty?
Installing COOLNOMIX is just like changing a thermostat. It's non-invasive and therefore won't affect your warranty. Besides, only a fraction of installed DX cooling systems are still under warranty.
Why have OEM manufacturers not incorporated COOLNOMIX technology in their new product offerings?
We have not approached OEMs about incorporating COOLNOMIX technology. We expect the technology will get more recognized as COOLNOMIX add-on technology products are deployed by major businesses and government agencies at scale in the US. There are conversations underway with major OEMs overseas, but there are no public announcements at this time.
Installation
How many COOLNOMIX devices will I need? Will I need one for every thermostat?
The answer depends upon the cooled space and the existing cooling system. In practice, there are multiple use cases where one COOLNOMIX can serve multiple thermostats (e.g., packaged rooftop unit).
Compatibility
Is COOLNOMIX compatible with a packaged rooftop unit that uses an economizer or a variable frequency drive (VFD)?
Yes, they are complimentary solutions. Economizers and VFDs help improve DX cooling system energy efficiency by reducing energy consumption associated with ventilation. COOLNOMIX helps improve DX cooling system energy efficiency by reducing compressor energy consumption.
Will installing COOLNOMIX void the warranty on my cooling system?
Only a small percentage of installed cooling systems are still under warranty. Installing COOLNOMIX is just like changing a thermostat; it's non-invasive and therefore won't affect your warranty.
Interoperability/Integration
Can COOLNOMIX exchange data with other systems (e.g., Building Management Systems, Building Automation Systems)?
In July 2019, COOLNOMIX Connect was introduced, which enables COOLNOMIX to connect with an Android device via Bluetooth. The initial purpose was to improve the consistency and quality of COOLNOMIX installation, commissioning, and operations. Development is underway to enable connectivity to other systems, and CoolGreenPower is seeking early adopters. Contact us if you are interested.