Amalgamated Housing Cooperative

Oldest limited equity multifamily co-op in the U.S. moves to eliminate carbon emissions with innovative retrofits that make clean energy from dirty water

Amalgamated Housing Corporation’s (AHC) low carbon retrofit project targets two 20-story buildings on their Bronx campus known as ‘The Towers,’ comprising 316 units of limited equity housing.

As part of this retrofit, AHC will focus on re-piping the existing single-use dual-temperature hydronic distribution system to enable simultaneous heating and cooling, rather than the singular seasonal option offered by their present arrangement. If successful, this solution could be replicated in other buildings with central heating and cooling with similar piping systems – a total market estimated at 200 million square feet. Additionally, new wastewater heat recovery and geothermal systems will capture and utilize heat from showers and toilets that is typically flushed down the drain. Thanks to this system design, AHC will reduce the number of geothermal boreholes needed, decommission its cooling tower, and install a photovoltaic system on the roof instead – all further supporting energy generation at the site.

The decarbonization of systems at The Towers will increase thermal comfort and secure utility affordability for their low-to-moderate income residents, as well as enhance the energy efficiency and climate resilience of the property. This project will set a precedent for other large multifamily complexes that share similar ownership structures, laying the groundwork for successful decarbonization in the multifamily sector across New York State.