The Habitat Management Survey: Financing a Switch from No. 6 Oil

New York City

Aug. 25, 2014 — When the board at 545 West 111th Street authorized an engineering study for a switch in fuel from No. 6 oil to natural gas, the members did not anticipate being presented with an $800,000 proposal to upgrade their heating plant.

For starters, 120 feet of chimney breaching needed to be redirected to bring the chimney up to current code. Further review revealed that the oversized and outdated boiler was running well below acceptable efficiency. The project called for installing four modular boilers and two water heaters along with a massive re-piping effort.

The study and the numbers made financial sense, however, despite the cost. The board fully believed in the project and developed a financing plan that would not require assessing shareholders. The project, which will pay for itself within the next six to seven years, was completed in the fall and has already produced an efficiency boost. With Con Ed recently supplying gas, the building will now enjoy fuel savings as well. — Mitchell Barry, President, Century Management

 

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