NoMad Co-Op's Cooling Tower Project Reduces Energy Costs by 40% and Water Use by 50%

A cooling tower replacement project at the 12-story, 20-unit NoMad co-op at 22 W. 26th St. is set to provide a 40% reduction in energy costs, a 30% reduction in the tower’s operating costs and up to 50% savings in water use. With new high-efficiency controls, the self-modulating cooling tower can scale cooling based on demand. And that’s just part of a range of recent upgrades aimed at improving the building’s D energy efficiency grade. 

Even though energy consumption was front of mind for the board, the pressing issue with the existing cooling tower was its age. “It was in terrible disrepair, with lots of rust, and on its very last legs,” says Isabel Taube, the board president. In selecting a replacement, the board chose a three-cell cooling tower. 

Optimal operation. A cell is a stand-alone fan component necessary for cooling that can work by itself or in conjunction with other cells. “The new cooling tower can reduce its operation so it can save money for the building and also reduce the amount of water being used,” says Conor Goold, a project manager at Howard L. Zimmerman Architects & Engineers, who oversaw the installation at the prewar building.

Moving from a cooling tower that ran at 100% capacity in summer to one with efficiency controls is expected to reduce the tower’s operating costs by around 30%. The building also expects to see up to 50% savings in water use because the self-modulating cells scale operation based on demand. 

Perfect timing. Although the cooling tower replacement was overdue, the timing for the project was ideal. Ivana Pavlica, a resident manager at AKAM who works with the building, says the timing allowed the building to invest in the state-of-the art energy-saving model. “If we had done it two or three years ago we would not have benefited as much from the new technology,” she says. 

The cooling tower replacement is also paired with upgrades to the pumps in the cellars and the addition of variable frequency drives. These improvements introduce the ability to control pump speeds based on demand and save on energy costs. The upgrades also allow the super to more easily switch from seasonal heating to cooling without the manual closing of valves. The $460,000 project is being financed through a $1.3 million assessment, which will also pay for extensive facade work and a new fire alarm system for the building. 

Overcoming obstacles. The installation wasn’t without its challenges. Not only was the tower in bad shape, but the decades-old steel beams supporting the structure also needed replacing. An inspection then found asbestos in the paint that had been applied to the steel, which required an abatement before the beams could be removed. 

Due to the co-op’s proximity to Madison Square Park, the project was further delayed by a construction embargo for the winter holidays. “It is a big tourist area,” Taube says. These embargoes are imposed by the Department of Transportation at certain times of the year and prevent the approval of new permits. This pushed the project into the new year, with the equipment now ready to go. “It will be put to the test this summer,” Taube says.