Johnson Controls International has been named as one of seven finalists for the $10 million Empire Technology Prize, a competition that aims to reduce carbon emissions throughout the state of New York.
Seven projects are moving forward with a chance to secure the prize, which is seeking building technologies for low-carbon heating system retrofits for commercial and apartment buildings seven stories or taller with the goal of reducing harmful emissions.
According to the Empire Technology Prize website, Johnson Controls, which is based on Ireland but has its administrative headquarters in Glendale, was selected for its solution that "utilizes a cascaded cycle, centrifugal compressor, and mechanical vapor recompression technology as an energy recovery process."
The solution, developed in collaboration between the company's North American and European teams, uses water as the heat source, can recycle waste heat to improve efficiency, and can offer cooling as an ancillary benefit.
"Finalists are challenged to develop a tested and fully functional prototype of a heating or distribution system that can be installed in a manner that does not displace occupants and works with existing infrastructure in buildings seven stories or taller," New York State Energy and Research Development Authority said in a statement.
Once picked, the winners will partner with real estate companies to advance their solutions. CBRE IM, Columbia University, Empire State Realty Trust, Fairstead, L+M Development Partners, New York City Housing Authority, Rudin, Tishman Speyer and Vornado Realty Trust are some of the institutions that will provide feedback on the finalists' demonstrations.
Each nominee receives an initial $250,000 award, which can add up to an additional $750,000 as they reach milestones in developing the retrofit solutions. Another $2 million is set side for finalists to offset costs of installations of pilot programs and other demonstrations at eligible tall buildings in New York.
DOWNLOAD the free MBJ app for breaking news alerts on your phone
By next June, an additional $1 million grand prize will be given to the project with the potential to reduce the most carbon emissions by 2040. Final evaluation and winner selection will occur from July through September 2025.
The NYSERDA plans to prioritize demonstrations at buildings in disadvantaged communities.
“Reducing emissions from the buildings sector will only be possible with ingenuity and technology innovation," said Doreen Harris, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority president and CEO, in a statement.
The NYSERDA is working on the program with climate-tech startup accelerator The Clean Fight, Wells Fargo and nonprofit Rocky Mountain Institute. The funding for the program comes from the state's 10-year, $6 billion Clean Energy Fund and Wells Fargo.
The finalists for the Empire Technology Prize range from startups to multinational original equipment manufacturers. Aside from Johnson Controls, they are:
- Ambient Enterprises: Flow Environmental Systems and Gil-Bar Industries — Minnesota, New York;
- AtmosZero — Colorado;
- Clean Heat Technologies — Pennsylvania;
- Enerin AS — Norway;
- Hydronic Shell Technologies and Cycle Retrotech — New York;
- Miller Proctor Nickolas — Finland.
