The Prize

The Empire Technology Prize was created to find and develop groundbreaking solutions to tackle the greatest single source of GHG emissions from New York’s tall buildings — heating.

Seven Finalists were selected with solutions designed to make adoption significantly easier: either a new class of heat pumps that work with existing steam or high temperature hot water infrastructure; or distribution systems that make it less disruptive to adopt existing centralized low temperature heat pumps.

In this short time frame, the Finalists have made phenomenal progress, including $4.15 million awarded to support demonstration projects across New York State. The future of clean heating is here – keep reading to learn more.

Winner

Representatives from MPN holding their award check.

Miller Proctor Nickolas

Steam + High Temp Hot Water Heat Pump

Miller Proctor Nickolas (MPN), based in Sleepy Hollow, New York, MPN brings Finnish manufacturer Oilon’s ChillHeat Technology to the New York market to provide and create solutions for high temperature hot water (180F+) and low pressure steam. A 100% employee-owned company with 60 years of experience in the New York space heating industry, MPN not only provides the solutions, but also end-to-end support for customers including integration with existing boiler systems and ongoing maintenance.

The team has made significant progress over the one-year prize program, including raising the industry’s and customers’ awareness of new space heating technologies through the development of a mobile demonstration unit. The Empire Technology Prize has awardeded $965k of demonstration funding to MPN for three project sites in New York State, including historic, residential, and mixed-use buildings.

These three projects will provide valuable data points to inform smart space heating upgrades applicable to all tall buildings using steam or high temperature hot water.

Winner

Solution Progress

Developed and tested mobile steam prototype and achieved UL certification for steam and high temperature hot water heat pumps

Demonstration Projects

$964,667 Award for three buildings – historic, mixed-use, and multifamily

Milestone Awards

$1,000,000

Winner Award

$1,000,000

Runner Up

Ambient Enterprises, Flow Environmental Systems, and Gil-Bar Industries

High Temp Hot Water Heat Pumps

The Ambient Enterprises, Flow Environmental Systems, and Gil-Bar Industries team was announced as the runner up, receiving a $100k Prize. Based in New York and Minnesota, the team has commercialized a high-temp hot water solution delivering up to 180°F with a natural refrigerant (CO2), including versions that do not require an on-site boiler operator. Flow has been working with CO2 refrigerants for over 13 years, with Ambient and Gil-Bar bringing decades of experience serving the New York market.

In the one year of the Prize, the team has received safety certification for Flow’s CO2 heat pump and gas cooler products, and worked with key MEP engineering and consulting firms to guide the adoption of natural refrigerants and reflect the evolving needs of the New York market. The Prize has awarded $1.2M of demonstration funding to the team for a project at a key historic building, enabling the first CO2 high temperature hot water heat pump deployment in New York.

Runner Up

Solution Progress

Received UL certification for their high-temperature hot water heat pump

Demonstration Project

$1.2M award, Historic Building

Milestone Awards

$1,000,000

Runner-Up Award

$1,000,000

Honorable Mention

Johnson Controls

Steam + High Temp Hot Water Heat Pump

Johnson Controls (JCI), based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has developed a solution utilizing a cascaded cycle, centrifugal compressor, and mechanical vapor recompression technology (MVR) to provide high temperature hot water up to 190°F as well as steam.

During the Prize period, JCI developed and tested prototypes of both its high temperature hot water and steam solutions and achieved UL safety certification for its high temperature hot water heat pump.

Honorable Mention

Solution Progress

Developed and tested prototypes of high temperature hot water and steam solutions and achieved UL certification for high temperature hot water heat pump.

Milestone Awards

$812,500

Finalists

AtmosZero

Steam Heat Pumps

Based in Loveland, Colorado, AtmosZero’s steam heat pump utilizes a cascaded vapor compression cycle to output steam and can produce low-to-medium pressure steam using low GWP refrigerants, without a steam compressor. The technology has been demonstrated for process steam applications at a brewery in Colorado.

Solution Progress

Developed and tested prototype utilizing low GWP refrigerant and made progress towards UL certification.

Demonstration Project

$500,000 award, Commercial Building

Milestone Awards

$812,500

Clean Heat Technologies

Steam Heat Pumps

Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Clean Heat Technologies is a division of the Thar group of companies, which has over 30 years of experience developing components and systems using CO2. Clean Heat Technologies developed an innovative steam heat pump utilizing this natural refrigerant and the team has developed six prototypes to date.

Solution Progress

Developed and began testing of prototype

Demonstration Project

$417,190 award, Multifamily Affordable Housing Building

Milestone Awards

$250,000

Enerin AS

Steam + High Temp Hot Water Heat Pump

Based in Lysaker, Norway, Enerin developed its Stirling heat pump technology over 25 years. Enerin’s heat pump can produce both steam and high temperature hot water using a natural refrigerant (Helium). The company has existing customers, industrial pilot projects, commercial installation due in 2026, and a prototype for space heating.

Solution Progress

Made progress towards UL certification

Milestone Awards

$437,500

Hydronic Shell Technologies and Cycle Retrotech

Distribution Solutions

Based in Long Island City, New York, this distribution solution incorporates a complete HVAC distribution system into a modular overclad façade that can be installed quickly, cost-effectively, and non-invasively on the exterior of an existing building, with a process that integrates manufacturing through design, construction, and operation and maintenance. The company is working on a pilot of its solution in Syracuse.

Solution Progress

Received UL certification for electrical components and progress towards other required safety certifications

Demonstration Project

$1,068,143 award, Multi-family Affordable Housing Building

Milestone Awards

$437,500