Implications for Projects Across New York: Inside the Newest Electrical Code Updates
Recent electrical code updates across New York are already changing how projects are being designed, coordinated, and delivered. For many teams, these changes are not showing up as line items in a code book. They are showing up as design constraints, coordination challenges, and in some cases, unexpected adjustments during permitting and construction.
New York State officially adopted the 2023 National Electrical Code on December 31, 2025, bringing statewide requirements in line with the most current national standard. At the same time, New York City implemented a significant update of its own, adopting the 2020 NEC with local amendments after more than a decade under an older code base.
The result is a more modern but also more demanding regulatory environment, particularly for projects moving quickly from concept through construction.
Better Outcomes Begin with Better Planning: Aligning planning, funding, and performance
Past its Limits
Newfield Elementary School, a 75,900-square-foot single-story educational facility originally constructed in 1954, faced growing challenges meeting modern expectations for student comfort, indoor air quality, and building performance. The school lacked a centralized cooling system and instead relied on a patchwork of aging window air-conditioning units that provided inconsistent classroom comfort. Large, shared spaces, such as the gymnasium, had no cooling capability at all.
As indoor air quality standards became more important for healthy learning environments, it became clear that the building’s HVAC infrastructure was no longer adequate. Stamford Public Schools needed a long-term solution that could deliver reliable cooling, improved ventilation, and higher efficiency while also supporting the City’s broader sustainability and decarbonization goals.
2025 Year in Review
Collado Engineering: a year of steady progress, growing expertise and continued collaboration
As 2025 comes to a close, Collado Engineering has taken the opportunity to reflect on a year marked by steady progress, growing expertise and continued collaboration with clients and partners across the region. The past twelve months highlighted how the firm’s long-standing values continue to guide its work even as the industry evolves. Throughout the year, Collado focused on strengthening its role as a trusted advisor, responding to shifting energy expectations and deepening its engagement with emerging technologies. This combination of continuity and adaptation shaped much of the firm’s momentum in 2025.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: A Throwback with New Purpose
Long before we were designing high-performance buildings, many of us first learned about sustainability from a colorful classroom poster that proudly proclaimed: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. It was simple, memorable, and it stuck with us—long before we knew where it would lead
“Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” taught us early on that smart choices could shape a cleaner future, and its rhythm is still hard to forget. Today, its message is charging into the MEP and Energy engineering landscape with new force. Through electrification, thoughtful system design, and efficiency-driven engineering, we’re turning that simple childhood mantra into measurable performance gains that reduce waste and maximize how buildings use energy. This focus on sustainability sets the pace for everything we do at Collado Engineering from concept to commissioning.
Fire Safety for Battery Energy Storage Systems
Discover the best ways to install Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) to mitigate the risk of uncontrolled combustion.
What is BESS?
BESS are devices that enable energy generated from a variety of on-site technologies to be stored during off-peak hours and used to supplement energy during peak demands or outages. These devices are essential to microgrids, which were discussed in our last article “Microgrids: The Smart Power Solutions for a Resilient Energy Future.”
While this technology has incredible benefits, there are some hazards that users should be aware of and prepared for. Whenever a large amount of energy is stored in a relatively confined space, there is a risk of the energy escaping in an uncontrolled manner. This often results in fires or explosions.
Microgrids: The Smart Power Solution for a Resilient Energy Future
Discover how microgrids are transforming the way businesses manage energy costs, reliability, and sustainability.
The Energy Infrastructure Challenge
Across Greater New York, energy systems are under strain. Much of our existing electrical grid is outdated―built for a different era―and the pressure of electrification, renewables integration, and growing energy demand is pushing it to its limits. With load growth having doubled since 2023, alongside the economic challenges associated with replacing or repairing the grid, utilities face growing congestion. This can lead to increased demand charges or more expensive energy―costs that are passed on to customers through increased rates for energy generation and distribution.
So, what is the alternative? Microgrids.
The Future of HVAC Refrigerants
The Phase Out:
R-410A has been a staple refrigerant for comfort cooling HVAC systems—including packaged rooftop units, split systems, VRF systems, and chillers—since it replaced the previous popular refrigerant R-22 back in 2010. While still prevalent in older equipment, R-22 has been completely phased out and is no longer allowed to be used in new systems. R-410A is now meeting that same fate and will be phased out over the next decade.
The EPA’s latest mandate as part of the AIM (American Innovation and Manufacturing) Act calls for using refrigerants with a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of less than 700 to help curtail global warming. R-410A has a GWP of 2,088, meaning that it has 2,088 times the heat retention effect as CO2, exceeding the new mandate limits.
OUR YEAR IN REVIEW: 2024
Collado Engineering had a remarkable and eventful 2024 as we celebrated our 25th Anniversary. We kicked off the year with a special event honoring the retirement of our Founder, Al Collado, and continued the year with a wide array of exciting projects that we successfully launched and completed. In addition to these achievements, we are proud to highlight the growth and success of our team, including the addition of new PEs (Mario DiMondo) and EITs (Andrew Kim and Matt Vilaboy), as well as our active involvement in various industry organizations. Below, we share a snapshot of the key projects, events, and team milestones that made this year truly exceptional.
Unlocking Efficiency: The Rise of Heat Pump Water Heaters in Building Solutions
Heat pump water heaters are emerging as game-changers in the realm of energy-efficient water heating, outperforming traditional electric resistive counterparts, as an alternative to fossil fuel-based water heating units. This innovative technology offers a compelling solution for both existing buildings looking to transition away from gas or oil-fired systems and new construction striving to achieve high-performance energy standards.
Harnessing Proven Technology:
Drawing from the same principals employed by heat pump air conditioning units, heat pump water heaters excel in transferring heat from the surrounding air or water sources to produce hot water for domestic use. Recent advancements in refrigerants and compressors have further optimized these units, enabling them to generate hot water at temperatures suitable for domestic application even at low ambient temperatures.
Diverse Configurations for Varied Needs:
Heat pump water heaters are available in a multitude of configurations, catering to medium to large apartment buildings and commercial settings. When selecting a unit, designers must first determine whether a water-sourced or air-sourced system is preferrable. Water-sourced units are ideal for buildings equipped with geothermal or condenser water systems operating year-round. In the absence of these systems, air-sourced solutions are an alternate option, particularly for retrofit projects.Read More