Cooling in the Caribbean: TIDES

TIDES, located on Grand Cayman Island, is a residential complex that features 24 total condominiums comprised of two-, three-, and four-bedroom floor plans to suit a wide range of needs. Developed by NCB Group, one of Cayman’s premiere residential and commercial developers, TIDES was built with energy-efficiency at the forefront of the design. Residents have uninterrupted and stunning views of the Caribbean Sea, all with lower electricity bills. Amenities include a large infinity pool by the beach with a shallow entrance for kids, an expansive deck area with shaded verandas, a gym, and rooftop terrace where residents experience incredible sunsets.

Common areas at TIDES are powered with solar PV, and sustainable building methods and materials were used, including ICF Construction. Due to space constraints, an open loop reinjection system was utilized. Water is pulled from one well on-site, passed through a heat exchanger, then dumped into another well on-site. There are capabilities to use waste heat from cooling to heat the domestic hot water, which would remove the need for boilers. A UNICO high-velocity, small duct system was used to distribute cooling evenly and in an aesthetically-pleasing way.