ROHNERT PARK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A new technology—100% electric heat pump refrigeration— at Straus Family Creamery will contribute to a sustainable transformation of the commercial cold storage sector, reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), improving energy efficiency and demand flexibility, saving energy costs, and applying advanced defrost controls. Partners Alter Engineers, Avida Energy, DMG North, Flow Environmental Systems, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, ProspectSV, and Straus Family Creamery are proud to be working together on the project, which, funded by the California Energy Commission, is a first of its kind.
The team will install and demonstrate Flow Environmental Systems’ ANSWR™ CO2 Heat Pump system at multiple cold storage sites used to store Straus Family Creamery’s organic super premium ice cream, yogurt, and other dairy products at the Creamery’s dairy manufacturing facility in Rohnert Park, CA. The project kicks off in September 2024 and is expected to span a two and a half year period.
Flow Environmental Systems’ ANSWR™ is a 100% electric advanced heat pump that can operate as a cooler, freezer, chiller, and/or heat pump boiler with a single power feed and simultaneous heating and cooling. This integrated solution provides low temperature and medium temperature refrigeration by reclaiming heat from the refrigeration cycle to defrost for little to no energy. ANSWR™ also replaces fossil fuel and synthetic refrigerants with safe and efficient CO2 refrigerants. While advanced heat pumps have been used in residential settings, this is a first use case at the industrial commercial scale. “Efficiency and carbon footprint reduction is at the core of Flow’s innovative heat pump design,” says Flow’s Chief Technology Officer, Sean Jarvie. “Straus Family Creamery’s use of ANSWR™ to satisfy multiple heating and cooling processes makes the technology an ideal application that maximizes efficiency and reduces peak demand, resulting in beneficial impacts on costs, grid congestion, and the environment.”
Straus Family Creamery’s Vice President, Sustainability & Strategic Impact, Joseph Button agrees. “We are tremendously excited that this project will drive operational efficiency improvements and climate impact reductions at the Creamery,” he says. “Even more, we are thrilled to help facilitate industry-wide advancement of this important climate solution through partnership, demonstration, and shared learning.”
The project exemplifies Straus Family Creamery’s long-standing commitment to a climate positive future through industrial decarbonization, while facilitating the rapid rollout of an innovative heat pump that addresses carbon and peak load challenges faced by California’s industrial refrigeration sector. It carves a path to significantly improving efficiencies and flexibility in facilities where this has historically not been possible. Design resources from the project will be shared with building owners, engineers, general and mechanical contractors, architects, and other industry professionals.
ABOUT THE PROJECT PARTNERS
DMG North, founded in 1967, is a premier independent sales representative specializing in top-tier HVAC equipment. Partnering with leading manufacturers, DMG delivers innovative solutions for the most demanding specifications. DMG collaborates with consulting engineers, contractors, developers, and facility engineers/owners to provide custom-engineered HVAC systems. Their expert team offers solutions including Custom and Semi-Custom Air Handlers, Heat Pump systems, fans, Air Distribution products, VRF systems, and more, serving sectors such as Healthcare, Laboratories, Mission Critical environments, Offices, Schools, and Hospitality. Beyond sales, DMG provides training, warranty support, troubleshooting and repairs. In 2023, DMG joined Ambient Enterprises, expanding its reach across North America.
Flow Environmental Systems is an engineering, technology and manufacturing company established to bring commercially viable and environmentally responsible HVAC&R solutions to global markets. The Flow ANSWR™ CO2 Heat Pump is a water heating and cooling solution delivering up to 180°F and down to -30°F with eco-friendly R-744 (CO2) refrigerant for all climates. It offers heating, cooling, DHW, and simultaneous capabilities for efficient, flexible performance. With high reliability, a small footprint, quiet operation, easy service, and long-lasting components, it’s a solution for today and the future.
Prospect Silicon Valley (ProspectSV) is a nonprofit cleantech innovation and impact hub focusing on decarbonization technologies, transition strategies, and deployments. ProspectSV helps solution providers and institutions take innovative approaches from pilots to full-scale implementation. ProspectSV’s deep connection to asset ownership, design, and technology development leadership offers immediate, tangible value and path to success. We approach projects differently - forging teams of experts and providing integrated support ranging from commercialization advisory to pilot implementations and program management. Since its inception, ProspectSV has collaborated with more than 60 local government and institutional partners, supported more than 70 cleantech startups, and leveraged more than $600M in public and private investment to drive innovations in transportation and the built environment.
Straus Family Creamery, the first 100 percent certified organic creamery in the United States when it launched in 1994, continues to make business decisions based on its mission to help sustain family farms, revitalize rural communities, and protect the environment. Based in Northern California, it crafts premium dairy products with high-quality organic milk and ingredients while focusing on minimal processing for superior taste. Its milk, cream, kefir, yogurt, ice cream, butter, sour cream, and various food service products are made with organic milk supplied by family farms in Marin and Sonoma Counties, including the Straus Dairy Farm, which was the first dairy farm west of the Mississippi River to become certified organic.
Founded by Albert Straus – a second-generation dairy farmer and climate action pioneer whose Straus Dairy Farm is currently on track to implement a carbon-neutral organic dairy farming model. believed to be the first of its kind – Straus Family Creamery is collaborating and innovating with its supplying dairy farms to reach carbon neutrality by 2030. The family-owned business advocates for local organic dairy farmers whose farms utilize 100 percent organic practices which regenerate soil through carbon farming.
