The functionality of the SuperCool™ Pod has great green environmental potential through the use of Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) technology. This is the technology that has been used in HVAC systems since its invention in the 1980’s. It is able to control a variable amount of refrigerant flow, as opposed to only being in the on or off position. This leads to a superb savings in utility costs, and that is the technology’s main selling point. Due to the advanced control system, temperature control is excellent, and ductwork is minimal.
The SuperCool™ Pod is designed with VRF fan coil units mounted on its roof. As the units generate water, they drip through every cycle while your Pod is operating. In addition, the industrial-strength dehumidifier that is in the interior of the Pod absorbs moisture from the plants, keeping the relative humidity (RH) at your specification. The water from both the fan coil units and the dehumidifier is gravity-fed into a Patent Pending system of reservoir tanks by which the operator both stores and plans to use during the week’s feeding using SuperCool™ Pod’s GUI.
This reclamation of water will significantly decrease the operation’s need to supplement with the facility’s water source, significantly decreasing the water utility bill and potential fines for overuse. This is critical in states such as California still effected by widespread draught.
Operating high-intensity bulbs and much indoor farming equipment consumes a lot of power. To further lighten the amount of environmental resources that the SuperCool™ Pod uses, we added the option of a solar panel that can be installed on the roof of the Pod’s host building. The commercial electrical bill is decreased according to the credits earned through the sunlight collected on the solar panels. It’s a win-win for the operator’s utility bill and the environment.
The monolithic structure that is the SuperCool™ Pod is considered a high performance structure. The SuperCool™ Pod is considered energy efficient because it is a 100% sealed environment with composite materials that have impressive insulating properties. The energy necessary to heat or cool the structure will be lower, compared to other buildings of equal size.