New York Build Expo: Heat Pumps Take Center Stage

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This week, I attended New York Build Expo, co-located with Installer Expo in the Javits Center. There were far more professionals there than press, which meant that I was able to get into practical discussions quickly. While there were many interesting technologies, less focus was on showing off or attracting capital compared to a show like CES. The emphasis was on making the technology work for the professionals who use it.

There were many products of interest from a clean technology perspective, and I will explore and follow up on several of them in future posts. But some significant trends could indicate where buildings, especially in NYC, are heading.

Heat Pumps

Overall, heat pumps were to Build Expo what AI was to CES. Big names in heat pumps were there, like Midea, GE/Haier, Gree, Daikin, and Bosch. Companies famous for gas boilers, like Navien, shifted focus to heat pumps. But there were also innovative smaller companies like Ephoca, Global Energy Systems and Quilt, which were focused on solutions to specific customer needs.

There were heat pumps that went in windows. Heat pumps that stayed completely within the interior of the building with only small holes in the wall needed to exchange air outside. There were residential heat pumps that sit outside the home, sending heated or cooled water to small air handlers or radiant systems inside. There were heat pumps just for hot water, just for HVAC or for a combination of the two. Systems ranged from a mini split for a room to industrial units for high rises.

Many of these systems focused on specific problems. Older buildings often do not have room for ductwork. Some units focused on aesthetics. Some are intended to replace traditional floor-mounted radiators with a unit designed for the same space.

There were several people offering upgraded air handlers, plumbing, ductwork, and other systems to work with heat pumps. While heat pumps are efficient, they tend to provide lower temperature heat compared to steam or combustion. This can require changes to existing plumbing and ventilation.

Additional vendors were focused on insulating and sealing the building envelope, often discussed as a way to increase the effectiveness of the shift to heat pumps. Several offered spray foam, surface-mount insulation, or cladding systems that integrate insulation, which are especially valuable in a place where many older buildings have uninsulated walls.

I also had conversations about industry consolidation and rebranding. As one distributor said, “one in three is Gree.” And I had several conversations about the limitations of heat pumps, particularly during very cold weather. One exhibitor selling heat pumps said that they were the best solution for heating 90% of the time but still believed in having fossil fuels for outlier cases. Several also discussed the increased demand on the grid, including companies offering solar solutions.

And there were multiple conversations about the need for installation and maintenance. Several different education programs and certifications were discussed, such as PowerUp 2030 and CUNY BPL. With all the changes and upgrades happening, there is a lot of work to be done.

Policy Driving The Efficiency Push

Much of the attention on heat pumps was due to New York City’s Local Law 97, which places carbon emission limits on buildings over 25,000 square feet and charges a fine of $268 per ton if people go over that limit. An estimate from Save Energy Systems put the cost at $56,000 per year for a 100,000 square foot building that is 25% over its emissions quota. While this law is specific to NYC, it may set a precedent for other areas that get serious about carbon emissions.

Beyond regulations, many of the exhibitors focused on the tax credits, incentives and other subsidies available on the federal, state, local and utility level. Several mentioned that the subsidies could pay for most of the cost of a project. In addition to improving building efficiency and reducing emissions, several of the covered products also provide aesthetic benefits in the process. While there have been headlines about the end of a few highly visible consumer subsidies, there are still a lot of programs available.

There were multiple consultants, sensors, systems and software focused on system optimization, as well as regulatory compliance and qualification for standards and incentives. From design and planning to optimization of existing systems, there were several solutions available. However, as HVAC and water heating make up the majority of building energy consumption, they tend to lead back to heat pumps.

Sustainability Stage Shifts Focus

While I couldn’t sit through all the presentations in the Sustainability Track, more focus seemed to be going to sustainable materials and embedded carbon than went to energy efficiency and carbon emissions. I did watch a presentation on passive homes, although the emphasis seemed to be more on the environmental aspects than the economics. Energy savings had basically gone mainstream at the event, and sustainability has largely moved on to the next topic.

Mass timber received a lot of attention in panel discussion, although less in the way of exhibitors. Current city code and regulation tend to make working with the material difficult. There were proponents around aesthetics and environmental benefits, as well as detractors, particularly around fire concerns in the densely packed city. It will be interesting to see how that progresses.

The sustainability stage also saw discussions on reused and recycled building materials. In a nearby booth, recycled glass bottles are increasingly ending up in the bricks and blocks from Glen Gery. Recycled glass is also being used with carbon-free electricity to produce foamed glass aggregate at Glavel, which can serve as insulation below concrete slabs.

Plastic bottles were also not left out. National Stair Products showed its Perma-Tread product, made from recycled bottles and recycled fiberglass. It replaces pre-cast concrete stair treads in commercial applications. Creating a market for recycled plastic is important because most plastic in the US is not recycled. Even most of the plastic that people separate out and place into recycling bins tends to end up in landfills or incinerators. However, turning that plastic into durable products locks that carbon away for decades.

In addition to the recycled products, several exhibitors focused on managing construction waste and connecting waste stream to companies who reuse and recycle that waste. Not only can some of the waste be diverted from landfills, but many of the materials are valuable and can provide an economic benefit.

Progress Despite The Challenges

Overall, dense cities tend to be more efficient than suburban sprawl. NYC per capita carbon emissions are less than half of the rest of the US. While many may not think about it being environmentally-friendly, NYC consistently ranks at or near the top of greenest cities in America lists. However, challenges exist. As the city with the first electrical grid, much of our infrastructure is outdated. Many buildings were designed for coal heat, then shifted to oil (still in use) or natural gas. Many of our buildings were also constructed before air conditioning and were not intended for modern electrical loads. Insulation was not much of a consideration a century ago.

However, we are seeing a significant change. Contractors are finding ways to work with existing buildings. New buildings are getting cleaner. While incentives have existed for a while, the combination with requirements and penalties is having a major impact. If fossil fuel prices continue to rise, that may accelerate the change further. While there are still challenges, including high electricity prices, progress is noticeable. Priorities are evolving. A more environmentally friendly built environment is quickly becoming a reality here in New York City.