The heat pump technology is an energy efficient alternative to classical heating and refrigeration. The newly built Hotel Riva in Constance demonstrates an entirely new approach to reducing energy consumption drastically. The innovative method of the company Isocal HeizKühlsysteme GmbH is based on a SolarIce storage system - a long-term water based energy storage using latentheat. During the winter months a gas-absorption heat pump uses the latentheat of the underground water storage to supply heat for the building. The extraction of heat causes the body of water to slowly freeze and thus an ice stock is formed that can be used for cooling the building during the summer months which results in the thermal regeneration of the storage.
Financial support from the DBU allowed for the integration of a complex measuring technology. Scientifically accompanied, the full energy flow of the building is recorded and visualized.

The SolarIce storage has a dual function as a heating and cooling device. Compared to gas condensing technologies, the combination of a gas-absorption heat pump and a seasonal ice storage enables a more energetically effective heating.
At the same time, the building can be air-conditioned during the summer months with far less energy input than is needed for conventional systems. Energy savings can be realised with around 50% for heating and about 99% for cooling.
In 2006 Isocal HeizKühlsysteme was awarded the Innovation Prize of the German Gas Industry for the development of the system.

The technology is suitable for large buildings as well as for single-and multi-family houses.

Project Operation
Isocal Heizkühlsysteme GmbH
Donaustraße 12
88046 Friedrichshafen
Tel.: (07541) 2072-40
info@isocal.de
www.isocal.de

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