EN-POWER GROUP was featured in Habitat Magazine for its engineering and energy-efficiency role in a comprehensive capital improvement program that paired a riser replacement with major energy upgrades at The Victoria, a 495-unit Manhattan co-op.

Context: A Capital Necessity Evolves Into a Decarbonization Strategy

When aging risers burst and caused significant water damage, the board at The Victoria in Manhattan’s Flatiron District moved forward with a $10 million building-wide riser replacement. Rather than isolate this critical infrastructure project, the board paired it with strategic energy upgrades to manage financial risk and comply with New York City’s Local Law 97.

EN-POWER GROUP’s Role

EN-POWER GROUP provided engineering support for the energy components of the project, which included eliminating steam systems, installing modular heat pumps for heating, cooling, and domestic hot water, and deploying a hybrid system that recovers waste heat from cooling towers — approaches that significantly improve efficiency.

According to Amalia Cuadra, Senior Director at EN-POWER GROUP, these energy upgrades were designed to both reduce operational costs and cut emissions that would otherwise trigger Local Law 97 penalties.

Results: Penalty Avoidance and Energy Savings

EN-POWER GROUP estimates that the energy upgrades will deliver about $260,000 in annual savings, while Local Law 97 emission penalties once projected at more than $300,000 in 2030 have been eliminated through 2040.

The co-op also secured more than $1.1 million in incentives from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and utility partners to support heat recovery system installation.

Why This Matters for Co-op and Condo Boards

This feature illustrates how large capital improvement projects — often driven by aging infrastructure — can be leveraged to make impactful energy and emissions upgrades that align with compliance, financial performance, and long-term resilience.

Media Attribution

This topic was originally featured in Habitat Magazine in the January 2026 issue.
[Read the full article on Habitat Magazine →]

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