energy efficiency retrofit
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MULTIFAMILY COOPERATIVE, MANHATTAN

Multifamily Cooperative

PROPERTY INFORMATION:

IGP, acting as Owner’s Representative to this Fifth Avenue multifamily cooperative, led the team to complete the LL87 Energy Audit & Retro-commissioning and LL84 Benchmarking.

  • Market Type: Multifamily Cooperative
  • # of Buildings: 1
  • Year Built: 1927
  • Designed by: Rosario Candela
  • Building Area: 71,000 sq ft
  • Total Units: 18 residential
  • Fuel: Con Edison District Steam for heating with a 2-pipe steam distribution system; natural gas for cooking
  • Pressure Reducing Valves (PRVs) reduce the Con Edison delivered steam pressure down to 3 psi.
  • The Penthouse apartment recently installed a separate hydronic heating distribution system with its own heating hot water boiler
  • Source EUI: 147 k/Btu/sf which is higher than the 120 k/Btu/sf NYC average for multifamily buildings, primarily due to common area electricity use (13 kWh/sf versus the more typical 5kWh/sf)

LL87 Energy Audit Energy Efficiency Measures (ECM) Recommendations:

  1. Replace oversized air conditioner in Resident Manager’s Office
  2. Install programmable thermostat with appropriate dead bands in lobby A/C unit
  3. Install occupancy sensors to reduce operation of televisions on gym equipment when not being uses
  4. Install LED candelabra in lobby to replace incandescent bulbs
  5. Install daylight and occupancy sensors in common areas where appropriate
  6. Replace T12 linear fluorescent fixtures with magnetic ballasts with more efficient new LED fixtures
  7. Replace exterior high pressure sodium HID luminaires with LEDs
  8. Replace single pane windows in Maids’ Rooms and common areas with double pane windows
  9. Air seal and insulate exterior doors and windows
  10. Reduce uncontrolled air movement and heat loss via fire place chimney tops with cable pull dampers when fire places are not operated
  11. Decommission and air seal now unused B-line kitchen exhaust ventilation shaft per NYC Code
  12. Install motorized louver, designed by a professional engineer, at top of elevator shaft in accordance with NYC Code
  13. Install low flow faucet aerators in sinks and showers in apartments

 

These pressure reducing valves (PRVs) reduce the Con Edison delivered District Steam first down to 40 psi and then 3 psi before being used to heat the radiators.

Replace these 8 foot T12 fluorescent fixtures with new LEDs with light and occupancy sensors.

The lighting in this upscale lobby can be just as beautiful when the incandescent bulbs are replaced with low Kelvin soft white LED candelabra luminaires.

When replacing old single pane windows with double pane windows, Owners should not forget the windows no one sees, like in the basement or common areas. These inefficient windows are just as responsible for heat loss as the windows one can see.

Tenants cover their radiators with beautiful custom made cabinetry and often forget that what is underneath needs attention.

Behind the beautiful wood cabinetry lies the 1927 era radiator forgotten by the tenant. In this building the tenants are responsible for maintenance which means the steam traps are never replaced. A broken steam trap negatively affects the entire heating distribution system. Since the radiators are part of the building’s “base building systems” they are the responsibility of the Owner, in this case the Co-op Board. The Owner should replace radiator steam traps every three to five years.