Canary Media: "This NYC high-rise is using heat pumps and waste heat to cut fossil fuels." Over 6,000 building owners in NYC are staring down the barrel at a 'groundbreaking Local Law 97 which went into effect this year, requiring buildings of more than 25,000 square feet to meet specific emissions limits, which become more stringent in 2030—or face hefty fines.' An example: "One cutting-edge retrofit project underway at the corner of Hudson and Charlton streets in lower Manhattan...a 17-story Art Deco office building...is ditching its fossil-gas boiler for uber-efficient electric heat pumps that are both heaters and air conditioners." State support comprises: "As part of the Empire Building Challenge, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) awarded $5 million to the 345 Hudson project in 2022, which also has more than $30 million in private funding." When completed by 2030, the building will consume 25% less energy and reduce GHG pollution by 75% relative to 2019 levels, thus avoidng 'more than $200,000 in fines annually starting in 2030.' To redistribute heat, the team is installing a kind of thermal circulatory system...a network of new and existing pipes that will carry a constant flow of water around the building. Then each floor can then tap into or reject heat from this system in order to keep its occupants comfortable. The team is installing the water-source heat pumps floor by floor as tenant leases expire, which is much less disruptive to all. "In the future, other edifices could join the thermal energy network connecting 345Hudson and 555 Greenwich...[which]would drive down carbon pollution further by reusing more heat instead of throwing it away, helping relieve some of the pressure on the grid as heating continues to electrify." Smart grids + smart buildings. Gotta love it.
Thu, Jun 20
NYC High-rise Efficiency
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