Reducing peak electrical demand by air conditioning systems and reducing water consumption by implementing an integrated thermal energy and rainwater storage system

An integrated thermal energy and water storage system, the system comprising:

• a refrigerant circulation network;
• a storage tank configured to store water, wherein a thermal mass of said water is used as a thermal storage medium;
• a water conveyance system configured to capture, direct and move water from one or more sources into and out of said storage tank;
• an evaporator connected to said refrigerant circulation network, wherein said evaporator is configured to evaporate refrigerant into a refrigerant vapor thereby extracting heat from a cooled space;
• a compressor connected to said refrigerant circulation network, wherein said compressor is configured to pressurize and circulate said refrigerant around said system, wherein said compressor compresses said refrigerant vapor;
• an air-cooled condenser connected to said refrigerant circulation network, wherein said air-cooled condenser is configured to condense said refrigerant vapor thereby removing heat energy from said water in said tank and rejecting said heat energy to the atmosphere;
• and
• a water-to-refrigerant heat exchanger connected to said refrigerant circulation network, wherein said water-to-refrigerant heat exchanger is configured to either evaporate or condense said refrigerant depending on an operational mode of said system;
• wherein said water in said storage tank is re-cooled by said refrigerant in the late evening and/or early morning, wherein said refrigerant from said compressor is condensed by said water in said water-to-refrigerant heat exchanger during a first mode of operation of said system, wherein said refrigerant is then expanded during said first mode of operation and directed to said evaporator during peak times of electrical demand to be evaporated into said refrigerant vapor, wherein said refrigerant vapor is directed to said water-to-refrigerant heat exchanger during said first mode of operation, wherein said water from said storage tank condenses said refrigerant vapor as opposed to being directed to said air-cooled condenser during said first mode of operation thereby allowing said water from said storage tank to function as a heat sink instead of outdoor air cooling said air-cooled condenser during said peak times of electrical demand.