The Chocolate Garden of Ireland Keeps Cool and Cuts Costs with Climate Wizard Indirect Evaporative Cooling

Carlow, Ireland – The Chocolate Garden of Ireland, an award-winning family business renowned for its handmade chocolates and premium ice cream, has successfully transformed its production environment with the installation of hyper-efficient Climate Wizard indirect evaporative coolers.

Founded in 2001 by Jim and Mary Healy, the company employs around 20 people and operates from a rural facility on the Carlow-Wicklow border. Their production site also includes a visitor experience, café, and ice cream parlour that attract visitors eager to explore the art of chocolate-making.

Since moving to their current 10,000-square-foot premises in 2009, The Chocolate Garden struggled to maintain comfortable temperatures in their production area. Traditional cooling solutions, including air conditioning and extractor fans, failed to prevent overheating, forcing production shutdowns during summer months of 2020 and 2021, when indoor temperatures soared above 24°C and sometimes reached 29°C.

Seeking a more effective solution, the management engaged John Lawton of JL Intelligent Cooling Solutions, who recommended replacing the old systems with two Climate Wizard H15S Plus units—advanced indirect evaporative coolers designed to cool without adding moisture, a critical factor for chocolate production.

Installed in April 2022, the Climate Wizard system delivered outstanding results. Indoor temperatures stabilized at a constant 20°C even when outside temperatures hit 30°C, dramatically improving working conditions and product quality. Moreover, the system’s low energy consumption led to a significant reduction in running costs.

In addition, The Chocolate Garden installed 40 kVA of photovoltaic solar panels on their roof in 2022, reducing overall electricity consumption by approximately 50%, further reinforcing the company’s commitment to sustainability.

Why Climate Wizard Works
Unlike conventional refrigerated air conditioners, Climate Wizard uses a patented hyper-efficient heat exchanger to produce 100% fresh, cool outside air without added moisture or chemical refrigerants. Its power usage remains steady regardless of outdoor temperatures, making it more energy-efficient as the heat rises—perfect for demanding environments like confectionery production.

Jim Healy, Managing Director, praised the system:
"The Climate Wizard is a great system and has helped to reduce our running costs for cooling. Now we finally have a cooling system that works effectively and efficiently. I would recommend this breakthrough technology to anyone wishing to provide temperature control in a working area. I was also very pleased with the installation team, commissioning, and ongoing support."

This innovative cooling approach ensures The Chocolate Garden maintains its product quality while promoting energy savings and environmental responsibility—an ideal solution for businesses facing the challenge of heat management in sensitive production areas.