Brooklyn Heights Co-Op Transitions to Heat Pumps for Energy Efficiency and Comfort

By replacing an aging oil-fired boiler with electric heat pumps, shareholders at a co-op in Brooklyn Heights are embracing a more comfortable and energy-efficient future. Until this year, it was common for residents at 205 Hicks St. to have their windows open when the heating was on in the winter. “Even with radiators off we had steam risers and most apartments were way too hot,” says board member and architect Kathryn DeFehr. 

Decommissioning the boiler in favor of heat pumps, which have rooftop condensers and ceiling-level HVAC units in apartments, means residents can remove in-window air conditioners. The change provides shareholders with energy-efficient heating in winter and cooling in summer. It also makes apartments much more comfortable. “Everyone now has their own thermostat,” says Thomas Esposito, president of VRF Solutions, the mechanical contracting firm brought in to do the work. The change has also eliminated carbon emission penalties for the co-op, avoiding $13,400 in annual fines starting in 2030. 

This switch is no small achievement for the co-op. DeFehr, who has lived in the 22-unit prewar building for almost 25 years, says the board had discussed switching its oil-fired boiler to a gas model for decades. “When Local Law 97 passed five years ago, it was obvious we shouldn’t move to gas,” explains DeFehr, who began sending out emails to board members and shareholders about moving away from fossil fuels. She also connected with NYC Accelerator, the city-sponsored organization providing free support for buildings wanting to reduce emissions. 

Like many buildings, the biggest hurdle at 205 Hicks was financing. Con Edison incentives of $215,694 accessed through the utility’s Clean Heat program made the project particularly compelling. “We didn’t know if these incentives would be around if we waited,” DeFehr says. However, the co-op still needed $684,306 and didn’t have much in its reserves. The board decided to split the bill into two parts — half paid through a loan and the other half through an assessment. 

“That way the upfront payments weren't too onerous for most residents and we wouldn't have to raise the maintenance,” she says. Each household has been assessed around $15,000. Shareholders were given the option to pay this over five years, which only a few households opted for. The portion of the maintenance that would have gone to paying for oil is now repaying the loan. 

The heat pump installation, which required increasing the building’s electrical capacity, also includes the electrification of the domestic hot water. “Being able to remove the steam system wipes out the need for maintenance of the boiler,” Esposito says. The building is not submetered but the heat pump manufacturer provides software so each shareholder will pay for their electricity based on factors such as return air temperature and refrigerant flow. The new heat pumps have a higher coefficient performance — a measure of efficiency — than most in-window air conditioners, which should drive savings. 

The project, which began towards the end of 2020 and was completed this month, needed approval from the Landmark Preservation Commission because the building is in the Brooklyn Heights historic district. The challenge was to ensure no equipment was visible from the street. “We did relocate the roof condensers and tuck them behind the bulkhead so they could not be seen,” Esposito says. Another challenge with heat pump installations is finding space for refrigerant lines throughout the building. At 205 Hicks St., two dumbwaiter shafts proved useful in getting this work done.