Retrofit

In this session, we will discuss the capital plan and design of central plant upgrades at a 443,000 sqft multifamily building with over 500 apartments. The design includes chiller electrification, mechanical design to operate the chillers in heat pump mode for heating, water source heat pumps (WSHPs) that utilize condenser water from the chillers during the summer months, and a building management system (BMS) that integrates a sequence of operation (SOO) to engage gas-fired equipment only during peak periods.

This session offers an opportunity for attendees to gain important insights into real-world performance of VRF systems and drivers that impact performance. Presenters will share results from two newly completed DOE-funded research studies focused on measured performance of VRF systems in cold climates. Come learn about the key findings, including VRF efficiency, refrigerant leakage, and the impacts of oversizing. Presenters will also discuss measurement methods and what the future of onboard measurement might look like.

Join us for a session delving into the realities of using IRA incentives for multifamily decarbonization projects. A presentation of case studies will outline the most used IRA programs, ways to stack incentives, and methods for monetizing tax credits. Some programs have proven challenging to leverage, warranting an explanation of common roadblocks and potential solutions. The past two years have shown that accessing IRA programs requires expertise and resources that certain market actors lack.

Building retrofits need to scale now, but face many constraints that create pressure on project teams, making it difficult to design optimal retrofit solutions. In response, Phius has developed REVIVE 2024, a new standard for passive building retrofits with a supporting software tool. The standard is guided by thermal resilience as a leveling metric, and a whole building life cycle cost analysis (including the cost of embodied and operational carbon) to help choose an optimal retrofit package. The result is a cost-effective retrofit with minimal embodied carbon.

NYS and NYC have created substantial resources to stand up first-in-the-nation grant and subsidy programs aimed at deeply incentivizing beneficial electrification in retrofits of existing multifamily buildings. This session will highlight three unique strategies through case studies of committed and completed projects. This session will also delve into the design and specification of systems in electrification retrofit projects, as well as data collected throughout the program design, construction, and operation processes.

National model codes serve as an essential tool for policymakers to drive progress on climate goals. In this panel, representatives from the International Code Council (ICC), NYSERDA, and the New Buildings Institute (NBI) will discuss the codes and standards development process, and how it connects to policy and practice at the local and building scale.

As we move towards a carbon neutral future, how do we ensure affordable housing isn't left behind? This session will help industry professionals connect the dots between the Climate Mobilization Act and affordable housing. Due to historical disinvestment, inflation, and a looming housing crisis, communities living in affordable housing often struggle financially. The NYC Accelerator offers free assistance to these buildings, helping them avoid penalties and promote preservation while promoting climate action.

Together, Climate United and Power Forward were awarded nearly $9 billion through the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund’s $14 billion National Clean Investment Fund. This session will dive into two of the awarded coalitions to explore how use of these federal dollars can transform capital markets and create meaningful change in the multifamily sector.

There is considerable debate about the relative benefits of electrification with heat pumps and envelope improvements. It has been suggested that Deep Energy Retrofits (DERs) are impractical & not cost effective. However, when an accurate Social Cost of Carbon is considered, DERs begin to look much more financially feasible. We apply a systems thinking lens to explore how carbon emissions are valued. We will present two multifamily DER examples to show the operational and embodied carbon reduction potential.