Geothermal Retrofitting Reduces Emissions
Geothermal Retrofitting Reduces Emissions
The Beresford Building, a historic landmark constructed in 1929 and located on Central Park West in NYC, underwent a groundbreaking geothermal retrofit to modernize its heating and cooling systems, significantly reducing its carbon footprint. Managed by Brightcore Energy @brightcoreenergy8701 the air-source heat pump system serves the lobbies, offices, and common areas of the Beresford, reducing peak cooling demand by 18% and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 41%. This retrofit serves as an example of how geothermal systems can help historic buildings meet NYC’s decarbonization goals while maintaining their structural integrity and original architecture.
Utilizing Brightcore’s proprietary drilling technology, boreholes were drilled at inclined angles up to 500 feet. Using water rather than compressed air allowed for drilling into the bedrock in the Bereford’s existing boiler room. Noise and vibration levels in the building were regularly checked, and the impact on the nearby subway system was carefully monitored.
A geothermal system uses a closed-loop system of underground pipes where fluid circulates, exchanging heat with the stable temperatures of the earth. In the winter months, the system extracts heat from the ground and transfers it into the building. In the summer months, it does the reverse, pulling heat out of the building and dissipating into the ground below. In this way, the Beresford optimizes its seasonal energy consumption, making it one of the first New York City landmark buildings to utilize this 21st-century climate mitigation and sustainability technology.
Utilizing Brightcore’s proprietary drilling technology, boreholes were drilled at inclined angles up to 500 feet. Using water rather than compressed air allowed for drilling into the bedrock in the Bereford’s existing boiler room. Noise and vibration levels in the building were regularly checked, and the impact on the nearby subway system was carefully monitored.
A geothermal system uses a closed-loop system of underground pipes where fluid circulates, exchanging heat with the stable temperatures of the earth. In the winter months, the system extracts heat from the ground and transfers it into the building. In the summer months, it does the reverse, pulling heat out of the building and dissipating into the ground below. In this way, the Beresford optimizes its seasonal energy consumption, making it one of the first New York City landmark buildings to utilize this 21st-century climate mitigation and sustainability technology.
