September 5, 2024    Newsroom

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.

Navigating Refrigerant Choices:

A pivotal decision in the design process revolves around the selection of refrigerant type. While 410A remains prevalent in HVAC applications and boasts familiarity among installers and maintenance personnel, its limitation become apparent as outdoor temperatures drop below freezing. When this happens, the unit is unable to produce hot water greater than 135°F. Moreover, the phasing out of 410A underscores the need for other options. Enter CO2, a more environmentally friendly refrigerant capable of maintaining 140°F output even in suboptimal conditions. However, working with CO2 necessitates specialized training due to its higher operating pressure.

Precision Sizing for Optimal Performance:

Ensuring the proper sizing of heat pump systems is paramount, given the greater installation costs associated with these units. Unlike conventional water heaters, oversizing a heat pump can significantly increase the initial installation cost and make it difficult for the client to realize payback on the investment. Therefore, meticulous attention to sizing considerations is imperative to optimize performance and reduce unnecessary expenditures.

Addressing Acoustical Concerns:

Given their operational similarity to chillers, air-sourced heat pump water heaters tend to produce elevated noise levels, often exceeding 90 decibels, about as loud as a passing subway train. Ideally situated on the building’s rooftop, these units may require acoustical treatment, especially if neighboring structures are in close proximity. In instances where rooftop installation is impractical, collaboration with an acoustical engineer becomes essential, potentially necessitating the design of custom enclosures to mitigate noise pollution near occupied spaces.

Embracing the Future of Water Heating:

In the ever-evolving landscape of building technologies, heat pump water heaters stand as beacons of innovation, offering a new pathway towards enhanced efficiency and sustainability in water heating systems. As we navigate the transition towards greener energy solutions, these remarkable units emerge as pivotal tools for architects, engineers, and developers striving to meet rigorous performance standards.

With their ability to leverage existing infrastructure to adapt to new construction paradigms, heat pump water heaters present a versatile solution for a diverse array of building types and sizes. From medium to large apartment complexes to sprawling commercial facilities, the flexibility inherent in these systems empowers designers to tailor solutions that align seamlessly with their project’s unique requirements.

Yet, alongside the promise of efficiency and adaptability come challenges to be met head-on. Selecting the appropriate refrigerant, precision sizing, and addressing the acoustical consideration are but a few of the hurdles to be overcome in harnessing the full potential of heat pump water heaters. With strategic planning, collaboration, and commitment to excellence. Collado Engineering can assist you in navigating these challenges and opportunities for innovation and progress on your next project.

January 3, 2024    Newsroom

Collado Engineering has had an extremely eventful 2023 with the wide variety of projects that we started and completed throughout the year. Not to mention the new PEs and EITs, presenting to the Association of Towns, bringing our expertise to NYC Code Committees, and the many other personal achievements of the staff. Below is an overview of some of these projects, events, and team updates.

Our Work

Our Events

Our Team

The Collado Team Members added in 2023:

January 3, 2024    Newsroom

As discussed in Electrical Vehicle Charging: Part 1, the number of EV’s on the road increases daily and with it, the demand for “refueling” these vehicles is also growing. Before proceeding with adding EV chargers to your parking garage or lot, it is imperative to ensure your building is prepared to support the additional electric loads. But what changes are needed to the building’s electrical system? Retaining a consulting engineer, such as Collado Engineering, to address this question is the first step. The following is a case study detailing what could happen when the proper steps aren’t taken to prepare prior to installation.

Case Study:

The parking garage in a COOP building is leaded by a third-party operator. Electric Vehicle Charging Stations were improperly installed by the vendor’s electrician. What was intended to be a benefit to the building and its parking garage users, resulted in more headaches for the building management.

The property manager then retained Collado Engineering to remedy the issues brought to light by the installation. We performed a review of the installation including the electrical infrastructure supplying the garage panel and the loads connected to the panel in question.

The garage panel was found to be past its useful life and once the panel door was opened, found to contain exposed busbars (see photo 1), creating a Safety Hazard. The panel itself was in poor condition, and we recommended that it be replaced.

We then discovered oversized fuses that did not protect the wires feeding the panel. This alone was an Electrical Code Violation. The fuses were replaced with correctly sized overcurrent protection for the conductors.

In reviewing the branch circuit wiring fed from the panel, the smaller wiring, typically fed from a 20 Amp breaker, was observed emanating from 100 Amp, 3 pole circuit breaker (see photo 2). Breakers were also observed with multiple wires terminating on the breakers (see photo 3) another Electrical Code Violation.

The installed wiring to the electrical vehicle charging stations was observed and identified to be inadequate to accommodate the electrical vehicle charger at full capacity. This was due to the wiring for all chargers sharing a conduit. Based on the NEC, conduits with 4 or more conductors require the wiring to be derated.

With the initial assessment and design by Collado Engineering, the property manager was able to retain an electrician to install a code compliant system to support the existing EV chargers. A new panel was installed and provided with feed through lugs to allow for the installation and expansion of a second panel. The added panel would allow for connections to future loads, such as the additional electrical vehicle chargers.

Unfortunately, in this case, more money than necessary was spent remediating issues that could’ve easily been avoided had the proper steps been taken. The Collado Engineering team is continuously monitoring all new information regarding EV charging infrastructure and can help save you this money and guide you through the journey of installing EV chargers from start to finish.

January 3, 2024    Newsroom

With electric vehicles (EVs) becoming more prevalent on the roads across New York, providing charging infrastructure to support the rapid expansion is becoming a priority. The industry will likely need to invest billions of dollars into the charging infrastructure within the next 10 years, but how do EV chargers work to begin with? And what are codes actually requiring?

How to EV chargers work?

EVs use batteries as their energy source, replacing the standard gasoline tank. Battery capacity is measured in kilowatts-hours (kWh), which is analogous to the size of a gasoline tank. The efficiency of the battery to move the vehicle is measured in kilowatts (kW). Typical batteries in electric vehicles today can span anywhere from 25 to 200 kWh. Which for the larger battery, depending on driving conditions, could translate to approximately 500 miles per charge. The larger the battery, the further the EV can travel between recharging.

Charging stations are essentially gas pumps for your vehicle, but rather than filling up with gas, you charge your vehicle’s battery similar to how you would any other battery powered device.

The power grid uses alternating current (AC), soc each EV contains a power supply and rectifier/inverter to convert the grid power into a usable form of energy for the car’s direct current (DC) battery. The most common forms of EV chargers available today are:

• Type 1: uses 120V power
• Type 2: uses 208/240V power and chargers substantially faster than Type 1

What are codes requiring?

New York State has one of the most aggressive climate and clean energy initiatives in the nation starting with the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act signed into legislature in 2019. In addition to goals in renewable energy and electrical generation, the climate act has a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030 and 85% by 2050. In an effort to reach these milestones, New York State has been encouraging residents to purchase EVs through more than 137,000 types of Drive Clean Rebates. But with this many new EVs, how are people supposed to charge them?

Most charging currently takes place in homes, since cars can be charged overnight, however, with the increase in vehicles, more charging options are required including workplace and high-speed public charging. The “EV Make Ready” program has been implemented to help EV charging station deployment by building and preparing the grid infrastructure needed to support the influx of EVs. The program is running through 2025, coinciding with New York’s goal of 850,000 zero-emissions vehicles by the end of that year.

In late 2021, the New York State Senate passed an act to modify the legislation regarding the requirement of EV charging stations and EV capable parking spaces. The new bill, officially in effect as of April 1 of this year, requires new construction that includes dedicated off-street parking (a garage, driveway, parking lot, etc.) to have a designated amount of EC capable and EV charging station spots dependent on the size of the building.

While similar regulations are not yet in place for existing buildings, there is a strong possibility they will be included in the near future. Building owners should being to consider adding the necessary infrastructure to prepare their buildings for the inevitable regulation updates now. By adding this infrastructure and the chargers themselves now, buildings may be entitled to rebates from different government agencies for working toward a “green building: as well as increase the building’s appeal to potential residents.

April 25, 2023    Newsroom

Does your building have a cooling tower? If so, you may be eligible for a monthly allowance as part of the NYC Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) wastewater allowance program.

A space is cooled by removing “heat” energy using an HVAC system. The system rejects this “heat” to the condenser water system and eventually to the atmosphere through the cooling tower (typically located on the building’s rooftop). In the tower, condenser water is sprayed over a fill material increasing the water’s surface area while fans blow air through the fill evaporating a portion of the water and, in the process, reducing the temperature of the remaining portion. While there are other losses of water in a cooling tower system (drift and blow-dow) approximately 80-85% of the make-up water is lost through evaporation.

Currently, the cost of water is $11.14 per 100 cubic feet (748 gallons) made up of two charges: supply ($4.30) and wastewater treatment ($6.84). The wastewater treatment cost accounts for 61% of the water bill, but since the evaporated water never reaches the wastewater treatment plant, the DEP allows you to request an allowance for it. The case study (right) illustrates the potential savings.

There is an application that needs to be filed and a water meter with a remote reader that needs to be installed, but depending on the system size, payback is approximately a couple of years.

If you are interested in pursuing this credit, or would like to know more about it, give us a call. Collado Engineering will work with you to complete the application and coordinate the process to get you started on the savings.

March 9, 2023    Newsroom

Starting in 2024, all NYC buildings over 25,000 square feet must report their annual carbon emissions by May 1st of each reporting year. A building’s emissions score is calculated based on its energy benchmarking data (Local Law 84) and compared to an emissions limit set for each type of building.

Why do you need to do it?

It is mandatory for all NYC buildings that exceed 25,000 square footage. Knowing your building’s carbon emissions will also help target improvements to reduce those emissions.

What does the process entail?

• A registered design professional must certify all Carbon Emissions Reports which are based on the building’s associated energy benchmarking dataset. It is imperative to ensure that your building’s annual energy benchmarking is accurate.
• A registered design professional must certify each property type and associated gross square footage of the building. For a multi-use building (e.g., residential, retail, school, etc.), the overall carbon emissions limits are calculated based on each different occupancy group or property type (as defined by the U.S. EPA Portfolio Manager).
• Building owners must report all energy consumed or fuel combusted on premises. This includes fuels typically not provided by a utility company such as propane, coal. diesel, etc. It also includes fuels used for normal testing of emergency or stand-by power generators.

Are there financial penalties?

There are three types of potential annual penalties:

1. If a building exceeds its carbon emissions limits, NYC Department of Buildings will assess a fine for the excess emissions to the building owner. In 2025, the fine will be $268 per ton of CO2 each year.
2. Failure to submit a certified emissions report will result in an automatic violation of $0.50 per building gross square foot for each month that the violation is not corrected (for up to 12 months).
3. Submitting a false report is a misdemeanor and is subject to a fine of $500,000 and/or imprisonment of no more than 30 days.

How can building owners improve their carbon emissions now?

• Check that your energy benchmarking is correct, identify all space categories correctly, and account for “all” energy use.
• Understand how and where you are using energy in your building and reduce where you can.
• Retro-commission existing systems to ensure they are operating as efficiently as possible.
• Replace old, inefficient systems with high efficiency replacements taking advantage of utility incentive programs and tax credits.
• Remember that decarbonization does not mean total electrification. If not evaluated correctly, you may save on emissions fines but gain an enormous electricity bill.

How can Collado Engineering’s Local Law 97 services help building owners, operators, and managers?

• Collado Ensures successful emissions report submission. our expert team will resolve NYC DOB comments and challenges after submission as the building owner’s representative.
• Collado’s energy team will certify your tenant spaces to ensure the occupancy type and gross square footage are accurate to avoid unnecessary penalties.
• We can help identify potential emissions reduction improvements with comprehensive energy auditing and design services.
• We can help owners apply for financial assistance via the NYSERDA FlexTech Program, NYC Accelerator services, or other utility rebate programs.

Our team is constantly monitoring the details of Local Law 97 as it continues to evolve. Please feel free to reach out with any questions!

January 31, 2023    Newsroom

Collado Engineering is pleased to announce the promotion of Miguel Quintanilla, P.E., to Principal and Alberd Misku, CPD, to Associate.

Miguel Quintanilla, P.E., LEED AP Principal

“Miguel has held the reigns, as a department head, of our Plumbing and Fire Protection department. As our newest Principal, we welcome him to our leadership team and are confident that he will continue to contribute to the growth of the firm,” said Andrew Hlushko, Collado Engineering’s President.

Miguel has worked in the industry for 20 years after graduating from Stevens Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering. He is licensed in NY and four other states, is a certified LEED AP, and is an active member of the American Society of Plumbing Engineers and the National Fire Protection Association.

Miguel is currently leading Collado’s effort on the energy performance-based MEP system upgrades at the NYCHA Adams Housing Complex. The work is focused on the central heating plant serving the seven residential buildings in the complex including refurbishing the steam boilers, decoupling the domestic hot water from the boiler plant, and electrifying the system using heat pump water heaters.

“I am honored to become a principal at Collado Engineering, and I appreciate the opportunity to be part of its leadership team,” said Miguel about his recent promotion. “Collado’s mission, to provide value to our clients through our expert quality work, resonates with my core beliefs as a consultant.”

Alberd Misku, CPD Associate

“Alberd has been a part of our firm for nine years and has become a key member of the Collado team working on projects that range across the architectural engineering spectrum. We are thrilled to promote him to this important position,” said Andrew Hlushko.

He is a graduate of Rochester Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering Technology and is a Certified Plumbing Designer by the American Society of Plumbing Engineers, of which he is an active member. He is also a member of the National Society of Professional Engineers and the National Fire Protection Association.

Alberd is a member of the Collado team that is currently working on the new Graduate Hotel in Princeton, NJ. Once complete, the hotel will have a total of 148 guest rooms, street-level lobby, food and beverage space, and on-site laundry. Collado is designing the MEP systems for the new building, as well as the renovation of the existing building.

“Collado was my entrance into the consulting engineering world and ascending to the Associate level highlights the confidence the principals have in me, as well as my commitment to the firm,” explains Alberd. “I am excited for the future and look forward to contributing to the firm’s innovation and growth.”

November 1, 2022    Newsroom

The 2022 New York City (NYC) Construction Codes go into effect on November 7th. With these new codes rapidly approaching, it is imperative to understand how your project will be impacted.

The most significant changes to the Plumbing Code are related to the capture, release, and reuse of stormwater. The changes potentially increase the area within a building that is required to detain stormwater on-site while encouraging its reuse.

Due to climate change, the frequency of 100-, 10-, 2-, and 1-year storms has increased. Just in 2021, the northeast experienced three, 100-year storm events. This, along with the increase of impervious area, has created a rainwater run-off emergency in NYC.

The new code attempts to deal with our new reality by severely limiting the rate of stormwater that a building is allowed to discharge to the city sewers. The code also expands on a building’s ability to reuse stormwater for cooling towers, flushing, and irrigation systems.

Stormwater Construction Permits:

These permits apply to all covered development projects in NYC that meet one of the following criteria:

1. Disturbs 20,000 square feet of more of soil
2. Creates 5,000 square feet or more of new impervious area
3. Covered maintenance activity (Right-of-Way Projects)

If a project requires this type of permit, a Storm Water Prevention Plan must be prepared. This plan must meet up to four of the following requirements:

1. Erosion and Sediment Control
2. Water Quality
3. Runoff Reduction
4. No Net Increase

The need to satisfy these requirements is based on the extent of work proposed, the location of the work, and the type of sewers situated around the site.

House/Site Connection Permits:

These permits are required when a project proposes a new sewer connection of NYC DOB requires a House/Site Connection Proposal. This proposal triggers the requirement for the site to manage the peak rainfall runoff of a 10-year storm. This can be accomplished by:

• Detention Systems: Designed to slow and temporarily hold an accumulation of stormwater runoff and release it at a controlled rate.
• Retention Systems: Designed to capture an accumulation of stormwater runoff on site through infiltration, evapotranspiration, storage for reuse, or some combination of these.

Stormwater control/collection methods, such as green roofs, blue roofs, and storage tanks, may need to be incorporated into the plumbing, architectural, and structural designs of new buildings or existing buildings undergoing renovations to help mitigate the impact on the municipal sewer system during rainstorms.

Collado Engineering is here to help our clients while you are navigating the new codes and their impacts on    your project. Be they stormwater management regulations discussed above or the changes relating to newer materials, construction techniques, and design practices, Collado’s team has the expertise to make the transition as painless as possible.

September 28, 2022    Newsroom

As 2022 is drawing to a close, we would like to remind you of upcoming key dates regarding compliance with energy Local Laws:

October 1, 2022: This year’s NYC Building Energy Efficiency Rating label becomes available

How to download the letter grade:

• 1. Go to the DOB: Safety website.
  2. Scroll down to Get your Building Energy Efficiency Rating.
  3. Enter your building’s Borough, Block Number, and Lot Number.
  4. If your letter grade is N, you’re done! Buildings with an N grade are not required to display their letter grade. Otherwise, you have to download and post it by…

October 31, 2022: The deadline to download and post the letter grade

How to post the letter grade:

1. 1. Print enough copies of the letter grade to post it at every entrance.                                                           .        The printed copies should be 8.5″ x 11″ and can be color or grayscale.
   2. Post the letter grades conspicuously near each entrance.                                                                                           .    It should be visible to the public and not obscured by other papers.

December 31, 2022: Prepare for energy benchmarking in the start of 2023

Energy Benchmarking Tips:

1. 1. Collect your electric, natural gas, fuel oil, and water bills spanning 1/1/22–12/31/22.
   2. Request these bills from any commercial tenants you may have as well.
   3. 2023 will be the last year before Local Law 97 comes into effect.

• • • Pay close attention to any increase in energy consumption and plan any last-minute changed needed to stay under your carbon emissions limit.
    • Take care in organizing and retaining your utility bills–they are the sole proof of your actual        energy consumption and will be needed for reference if your building is fined for excess carbon emissions.

Our team will continue to follow up regarding benchmarking, but please feel free to reach out in the meantime with any questions!

February 2, 2022    Newsroom

A building energy audit is a process of determining how a facility uses energy, the types of energy used, the energy cost, and identifying opportunities to reduce consumption without decreasing occupants’ thermal comfort or life safety.  New York City (NYC) Local Law 87 (Energy Audits and Retro-Commissioning) mandates periodic energy audits for buildings that exceed 50,000 square feet.  The New York State Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA) and local utility companies require an energy audit as a requirement for participation in some of their utility incentive programs.  And NYC Local Law 97 (Carbon Emission Limits), scheduled to be implemented in 2024, will require some level of energy auditing to determine a property owner’s actual carbon emission and potential financial penalties.

Types of Building Energy Audits

An energy audit is often also referred to as an energy assessment, survey, evaluation, or investigation. There are four commonly accepted types:

• Level-0 (Benchmarking Audit or ASHRAE Preliminary Energy-Use Analysis):

This audit is an analysis of energy use and cost to determine a benchmark index such as Btu (British Thermal Unit) per square foot per year. It involves analyzing annual utility bills and is relatively quick for simple building layouts. NYC Local Law 84 (Energy Benchmarking) requires annual benchmarking submissions for buildings exceeding 10,000 sq. ft.

• Level-1 (Walk-Through or ASHRAE Level-1):

This audit involves a cursory Level-0 analysis and quick identification of recommended energy improvement measures that are no-cost or low-cost. On-site surveying is limited to a few hours with a small team of auditors, and the survey cost is small. Estimated energy savings and implementation costs are rough estimates. A Level-1 audit is ideal to determine if a building has potential energy reduction and cost savings. If a building does not, the auditing effort is ended with no further resources expanded. If a building has potential, a higher auditing effort is necessary to quantify that potential.

• Level-2 (Energy Survey and Analysis or ASHRAE Level-2):

This audit involves a more detailed utility data analysis and surveying of building conditions and energy consuming equipment. The surveying effort depends on the size and complexity of the facility, and it may last multiple days or weeks with a large team or multiple teams of auditors. This effort is also dependent on the complexity of recommended energy measures. Auditors can perform more detailed energy calculations, take on-site measurements, and collaborate with contractors and specialized consultants to provide more realistic savings and implementation costs. Building owners can use the results to plan their energy projects and use the report to comply with NYC Local Law 87 requirements.

• Level-3 (Detailed Analysis of Capital-Intensive Modifications or ASHRAE Level-3):

This audit expands upon the Level-2 effort. Typically, building owners will decide which recommended energy measures they wish to pursue from the Level-2 audit. Auditors will refine engineering and economic analysis, backed by detailed field data collection, and develop a preliminary scope-of-work or design. Implementation costs result from actual contractor bids. As a result, these audits are also referred to as investment grade audits or IGAs.

Energy Auditor Qualifications

An energy audit team will typically consist of personnel with different engineering and energy-related expertise. The team composition may vary with the audit level and energy measures being analyzed. Regardless of efforts, energy auditors or team leaders should be certified energy audit professionals. NYC Local Law 87 requires an energy audit to be conducted or supervised by personnel with one of the following certifications:

• Certified Energy Manager (CEM) or Certified Energy Auditor (CEA)
• High Performance Building Design Professional (HPBD)
• Building Energy Assessment Professional (BEAP)
• Multifamily Building Analyst (MFBA) – audits of multifamily residential buildings only

Energy Audit Results

The results of an energy audit should help building owners understand how they are using energy, how their energy consuming equipment contribute to energy use, the cost of energy use, and ways to reduce that energy use. The audit could also produce recommendations for operations and maintenance improvements. At a minimum, NYC Local Law 87 requires a Level-2 audit to provide:

• Reasonable recommendations to reduce energy use and/or building operation cost
• Annual energy savings, implementation costs, and simple financial payback
• Benchmarking results
• A breakdown of energy use by system and predicted energy savings by system
• A general assessment of how the major energy consuming equipment and systems impact energy consumption

Water Conservation

Although an energy audit investigates the use of electrical and fossil fuel energy in heating and cooling systems, it will often include a survey of domestic water use within a building. At a minimum, water must be conditioned or pumped to the point-of-use. Reducing water consumption can result in significant cost savings due to high use and water and sewer costs.

Building Owner and Stakeholder Involvement

A successful energy audit is a team effort consisting of the audit team, building owner, operators, and other stakeholders such as tenants. Building owners should convey their expectations of the audits, and provide guidance on their priorities, constraints, and other factors that could help focus auditing efforts or influence energy measure considerations. This helps reduce auditing cost and optimize efforts.

Do I Need an Audit?

Collado Engineering can help you determine what type of audit is right for you and/or what you need to comply with New York City requirements. Our certified energy professionals can provide detailed analysis and recommend realistic energy conservation measures.