Why Cogeneration Is a Smart Move for Building Owners in New York

If you own—or advise the owner of—a New York building with consistent heating and cooling needs, or is power intensive—and your boiler is aging—cogeneration, also known as Combined Heat and Power (CHP), could be the ideal upgrade. CHP systems generate both electricity and useful heat from a single fuel source, making them significantly more efficient than traditional setups that rely on separate systems for heat and power. New York has set a goal to reduce building energy use (more on that later), and cogeneration offers a practical way to reduce energy costs and carbon emissions at the same time in buildings statewide.

Maximize Efficiency by Capturing Waste Heat
One of the biggest advantages of cogeneration is its ability to capture heat that would otherwise be lost. Traditional boilers in New York buildings often waste a significant portion of energy as excess heat; Most traditional steam heating systems have low real-world efficiency, which drives up costs.

However, CHP systems transform waste heat into heating and hot water, achieving overall efficiency rates of up to 90%. On-site power generation also eliminates transmission losses from the grid, further improving your building’s energy performance. When evaluating a system upgrade or retrofit, it’s important to consider the key equipment options available for heating and cooling, particularly boilers and absorption chillers. Each comes with its own benefits, and the ideal choice depends on your building’s load profile, physical layout, and fuel source:

• Boiler: Boilers are central to building heating systems, converting fuel or electricity into hot water or steam. Common types include fire-tube and water-tube boilers, with electric and condensing models offering specialized benefits. The best fit depends on your building’s heating needs, layout, and available fuel sources.
  
  
• Absorption Chiller: Absorption chillers use heat instead of electricity to provide cooling, relying on sources like waste steam or natural gas. They’re typically used by larger facilities, i.e., hospitals or universities, aiming to reduce electric demand and utilize onsite heat, often integrating well with cogeneration systems to lower operating costs.

Understanding these boiler types helps ensure your CHP system is designed for maximum performance, reliability, and long-term cost savings.

Operational Resilience
Reliability is crucial in New York, where storms and utility disruptions can significantly impact business operations. Think of Hurricane Irene or Henri and the record-breaking rainfall and power outages they caused. With CHP, these systems can operate independently of the grid during outages, ensuring your building’s heating, cooling, and electricity remain uninterrupted. This resilience protects your revenue and your operations, even in the event of New York’s unpredictable weather and power challenges.

Reaching New York’s Sustainability Goals
Cogeneration helps your building reduce its carbon footprint by producing significantly lower emissions per unit of energy compared to conventional grid power. This aligns with New York’s ambitious environmental regulations, particularly the landmark Local Law 97 (LL97). LL97 is a key component of New York City's Climate Mobilization Act, which aims to reduce citywide greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030 and by 80% by 2050. The law imposes strict carbon caps on buildings exceeding 25,000 square feet, requiring many owners to implement significant energy-efficiency improvements or face substantial financial penalties. By recovering waste heat and producing power and thermal energy together, CHP reduces fuel consumption and emissions, without needing separate systems.

Turnkey Solutions Tailored to You
CHP systems can be customized to meet the specific needs of your New York property – provided it is connected to natural gas. Catalyst Power offers turnkey solutions, including installation, operation, and maintenance, with no upfront investment, making it easier than ever for New York building owners to adopt this advanced technology.

Ideal Time to Replace Your Aging Boiler
If your boiler is nearing the end of its life, now is the perfect opportunity to consider cogeneration. Instead of simply replacing an old boiler with a similar system, you can transform your building’s energy infrastructure into an efficient energy hub. This is a great solution for New York building owners with steady heating and cooling demands.

Take the Next Step

If you’re a New York building owner ready to replace an aging boiler and want to take control of your energy costs and reliability, Catalyst Power® is here to help. Our team will work with you to install and operate a CHP system tailored to your property’s unique needs while eliminating upfront costs and maximizing your energy efficiency. Don’t wait for your old boiler to fail. Contact our team today.