The goal of energy conservation is achieved by the installation of a new double stage steam absorption chiller atop the residential building at 60 West 57th Street.

The new chiller replaced the existing 406-ton single stage chiller that was in use for more than forty years. This machine is nearly twice as efficient as the previous chiller and increases the cooling capacity in order to meet the growing needs of the building’s conversion into a luxury property.

The result contributes significant savings in energy costs due to greater chiller efficiency and the use of the steam condensate to preheat the domestic hot water for the building. Because the chiller derives its power from steam which alleviates a stressed electrical power grid in the summer months, NYSERDA provided its funding. A steam rate reduction was obtained from Con Edison for the first two years of operation.

With the energy savings, rebates and lower steam rates, the project offered a payback of 2.5 years while updating building infrastructure with equipment that will operate for many decades.