Evanston is getting a new gadget courtesy of its next partner in electricity aggregation.
The city announced Tuesday its one-year agreement with Verde Energy USA includes a cooling unit that freezes water at night and melts it to cool off an air conditioner compressor during daytime peak hours. The machine, which will be installed in an Evanston-owned building, recycles the water for the next night.
In a news release, Verde president and CEO Thomas FitzGerald said the cooling system — called Ice Bear technology — helps “achieve energy efficiency, reduce costs and enhance grid reliability.”
The City Council last week voted to award the one-year contract to Verde, paving the way for a more than 8 percent increase on most residents’ electric bills starting this summer. The agreement raises the price per kilowatt hour to 5.192 cents, meaning an extra $4 a month for the average household.
City officials have hailed the 1-year-old program as a way to keep local energy cheap and environmentally friendly.
“Our choice of providers underscores our community’s recognition of the importance of both cost-effectiveness and energy efficiency, and we look forward to working with Verde to accomplish those goals,” Evanston Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl said in a news release.
— Patrick Svitek
