Electrification of 830 Amsterdam

Dynamic US’s goal was to aggressively develop solutions that provided reliable, cost-effective heating systems, maximized energy performance, and reduced emissions in alignment with the New York State Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act and New York City’s Climate Mobilization Act (Local Law 97).

Following a greenhouse gas emissions analysis of the 1965, 20-story residential building and the evaluation of multiple design concepts, Dynamic US, Inc. proposed the full electrification of 830 Amsterdam Avenue through the installation of a high-efficiency electric Variable Refrigerant Flow (VRF) heat pump system. The design-build electrification project eliminated the use of on-site fossil fuels for heating and domestic hot water while also providing central heating and cooling to all 159 apartments. The heat pump system— the first of its kind at a public housing facility in New York State—operated entirely on the electrical grid without reliance on fossil fuels. Upon completion, the project provided each residential unit with an independent heating and cooling system, improving occupant comfort and overall system reliability, as the failure of a single indoor or outdoor unit had limited impact on the building as a whole.

The existing wall-mounted air conditioning units, which were often left installed year-round, were removed, significantly reducing building air infiltration, lowering energy consumption, and decreasing greenhouse gas emissions.

Electric heaters were added to the storage tanks to provide system resiliency during periods when outdoor temperatures fell below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. The entire system was integrated with NYCHA’s BACnet-compatible Building Maintenance System. As a result, the new high-efficiency heating and hot water system reduced local greenhouse gas emissions by more than 590 metric tons annually, equivalent to removing approximately 130 vehicles from the road.

The replacement of the building’s existing central steam boiler plant represented an innovative and impactful opportunity to support NYCHA residents and New York State by deploying best-available technologies in a cost-effective and energy-efficient manner, while delivering reliable heating and cooling for residents.