EN-POWER GROUP was featured in Habitat Magazine for its work supporting a Brooklyn condominium that reduced carbon emissions and improved HVAC performance by upgrading rooftop cooling equipment and ventilation fans.

Context: Aging Cooling Infrastructure Drives Emissions

In many multifamily buildings, rooftop cooling towers and exhaust fans operate for decades with limited optimization. As equipment ages, efficiency declines, maintenance costs rise, and energy use increases — all of which contribute to higher carbon emissions and growing compliance risk under New York City’s climate laws.

For this Brooklyn condominium, aging rooftop equipment had become both a performance and sustainability concern.

EN-POWER GROUP’s Role

EN-POWER GROUP was engaged to evaluate the building’s cooling infrastructure and identify opportunities to improve performance without undertaking a full system replacement.

The scope included:

  • Upgrading the rooftop cooling tower to improve heat rejection efficiency

  • Replacing or reconfiguring exhaust and ventilation fans to better match actual building loads

  • Improving system balance to reduce unnecessary runtime and energy waste

Rather than oversizing equipment or defaulting to like-for-like replacements, EN-POWER GROUP focused on right-sizing and system coordination to improve overall efficiency.

Results: Lower Energy Use and Carbon Reduction

The upgraded cooling tower and fan systems reduced the building’s energy consumption during peak cooling months, directly lowering carbon emissions associated with HVAC operation.

By improving airflow and heat rejection efficiency, the building also reduced mechanical strain on equipment, supporting longer service life and more stable operation. These improvements positioned the condo to better manage current operating costs while reducing future exposure to carbon penalties.

Why This Matters for Co-op and Condo Boards

This feature highlights how targeted HVAC upgrades can deliver meaningful carbon reductions without requiring full system overhauls. Cooling towers and fans are often overlooked, yet they play a critical role in both energy performance and emissions.

Boards facing rising energy costs or Local Law 97 exposure can benefit from evaluating rooftop equipment as part of a broader capital planning strategy, particularly when upgrades can be phased and aligned with maintenance cycles.

Media Attribution

This project was originally featured in Habitat Magazine in the May 2025 issue.
[Read the full article on Habitat Magazine →]

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