WINDSOR, CO – April 28, 2009 – Ice Energy, a leading provider of distributed energy storage and smart grid solutions for optimizing energy system efficiency, has been awarded the Silver prize in the 22nd Excellence in Design Awards competition for its Ice Bear energy storage system. Sponsored by Appliance Design Magazine, the award honors creative and technically savvy product designs in the global appliance industry.

Ice Energy’s innovative Ice Bear system is the industry's first energy storage solution specifically developed for small to mid-sized commercial buildings. It integrates seamlessly with conventional air conditioning units to create a unique hybrid cooling system that fundamentally changes how – and more importantly when – energy is consumed for air conditioning.

By efficiently storing clean, abundant and less expensive off-peak power at thousands of dispersed locations and delivering it during times of peak demand, Ice Energy’s distributed energy storage technology represents a new sustainable energy solution equivalent to hundreds of megawatts of clean peaking power for utilities. For building owners, this means reduced daytime energy consumption, lower energy costs and a smaller environmental footprint.

“We are extremely honored to receive this Appliance Design award,” said Frank Ramirez, CEO of Ice Energy. “Every aspect of the engineering of the Ice Bear has been calculated by our team to blend our transformational technology with a streamlined, efficient system design that provides maximum ease of use - from installation to monitoring, control, and servicing - and the highest standards for reliability, compatibility, comfort, and architectural aesthetics.”

Entrants in the Appliance Design competition were evaluated by an independent panel of experts in the field of design, with the products judged on four criteria: aesthetics, human factors, innovation, and technology. Winning products were deemed to display a level of design and technical innovation which set them apart from the competition, coupled with an ability to make technology more accessible to end users.

Appliance Design will feature the award winners in its June 2009 issue.

The Appliance Design award follows Ice Energy’s recent recognition by the Gartner Group as a 2009 “Cool Vendor in Energy and Utilities.” The Ice Bear was also awarded the 2009 Green Building Innovation Award from AHR and was named as one of Buildings Magazine’s Top 100 Products of 2008.