Wellington is proving ground for a first-of-its-kind material

WELLINGTON, Kan. (KSNW) — Wellington is the proving ground for a first-of-its-kind material that could significantly lower energy costs.

The Raymond Frye Complex is the first community building in the country to install the ULTIMA TEMPLOK ceiling panels. The tiles are composed of a layer of soundproofing material and something called a Phase Change Material , which is able to absorb, retain, and then release heat.

"You can think of it like ice in a cooler," says Michael "Mick" Dunn with Armstrong World Industries . "When ice is melting, it's absorbing heat. It changed from a solid to a liquid. Once it's exposed to an environment above 32°F, it will melt and absorb heat."

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The material works the same way, except it starts at 72°F. The material, which is on the back of the tile, begins to "melt" and absorb and store the heat. When it cools below 72°F, it begins to "freeze" again, releasing the heat it has stored.

The technology was originally developed by Insolcorp, LLC , and acquired by Armstrong. It is the company's first version of this type of tile.

The installation is part of the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Building Technologies Proving Ground Public Sector Field Validation study. The product is expected to reduce energy consumption for heating and cooling by at least 15%.

Wellington City Hall began to test the thermal energy-storing ceiling tiles in August 2022 .

The results of the research study will be published later this year, and if it proves successful, the tiles and other products that utilize the material may find their way into homes and businesses across the country.

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