Building Systems
Smart Buildings Are Holistic
Exterior/Envelope
HVAC
Hot and Cold Water
Lighting
Solar, Cogen, and Batteries
Envelope improvements can range from small air sealing tasks to major retrofits. The best times to consider these upgrades are at occupant turnover, end of useful life, in coordination with Local Law 11 façade work, or at time of refinancing, new acquisition, or repositioning.
- Well-sealed wall penetrations
- High performance windows with sensors
- Well-insulated, “cool,” and durable roof
- Enhanced wall insulation
Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems should efficiently provide healthy and comfortable spaces. Improvements can range from fine-tuning your existing equipment to complete system overhaul. Consider these upgrades if there are frequent hot and cold complaints; mold, moisture, or odor issues; when incentives are available; or at time of refinancing, new acquisition, repositioning, or end of useful life.
- Right amount of heating and cooling delivered at the right times
- Well-ventilated spaces with good indoor air quality
- Fault detection and prevention
Hot and cold water should be delivered efficiently to meet the needs of the building without excess. Consider a system upgrade if water bills are high, at occupant turnover, when incentives are available, or at time of refinancing, new acquisition, repositioning, or end of useful life.
- Leak detection
- Low-flow fixtures and toilets
- Efficient domestic hot water production and delivery
Lighting systems should efficiently provide safe and well-lit conditions for a range of activities and occupant needs. Consider a system upgrade at any time for spaces with 24/7 lighting like lobbies, corridors, and stairwells. For other spaces, consider an upgrade at occupant turnover, when incentives are available, or at end of useful life.
- LED upgrades
- Occupancy or vacancy sensors
- Photo sensors
- Scheduling and controls
On-site generation and storage systems should be responsive to building demands and changing grid or market conditions. Consider a smart system upgrade when there is an opportunity for third-party financing, when incentives are available, or at time of at time of refinancing, new acquisition, or repositioning.
- Connect how you buy energy with how you use energy
- Flexible grid solutions
- Two-way communication between the building and the utility
- Resilient in the event of a power outage
Reduce heating costs and stop whistling doors with a simple fix
Aerosol sealant dramatically reduces air leakage with less labor time
Installing a dedicated DHW plant is a common energy conservation measure in the NYC multifamily market, but it may not be as effective as you think
This primer from the NYC Retrofit Accelerator showcases cost-effective solutions to fix steam heating systems that can save between $10,000 and $30,000 a year on energy costs.
Refrigerants with very high global warming potential can negate the energy-efficiency benefits of many HVAC systems, including popular heat pumps
Tune in to uncover the benefits associated with air source heat pumps and how to get the most from these systems
Maintenance tips for buildings without mechanical ventilation and how to upgrade
Strategies to improve indoor air quality and system performance
Where to put your outdoor unit and how to operate most efficiently
Where to put your indoor unit to operate for efficiency and comfort
Upgrading steam systems represents a smart strategy to meet environmental goals, save building owners money, and provide greater comfort to apartment residents.
From condensing boilers to heat pumps, how to update NYC’s domestic hot water systems
Good, bad, and outdated solutions for domestic hot water in multifamily buildings
Saving water can have a huge impact on the expense of operating multifamily buildings
This blog post from SWA explains efficient lighting strategies for low-energy buildings through thoughtful layout and proper controls.
This primer from Philips explains how Power over Internet (PoE) standards enable smart, connected lighting systems.
Lighting retrofits save energy and reduce operating expenses
Evaluating the potential of behind-the-meter energy storage systems for multifamily buildings in the absence of interval data
Learn more about distributed energy resources like cogeneration plants, solar PV, and battery storage
Tune in to learn about some of the barriers and opportunities facing solar developers