For Tall
Buildings
$10M
Prize
New York’s buildings account for a third of the State’s GHG emissions, and 70% of New York City’s. Heating is the largest single source of those emissions - over 30%. It’s a critical problem to tackle if we’re going to solve the climate crisis — in New York State and beyond.
Heat pumps are a great solution for decarbonizing building heat, however existing technologies can be difficult to integrate into New York State’s buildings. Most heat pumps work best with low temperature hot water distribution systems, however the majority of New York's tall buildings operate on steam distribution (1B sqft), or high temperature hot water distribution (0.4B sqft).
In short, New York needs new solutions that will help avoid expensive and disruptive installation: 1) a new class of heat pumps that work with the existing steam or high temperature hot water infrastructure, and 2) new distribution solutions that make it easier to adopt existing centralized low temperature hot water heat pumps.
The estimated market for these solutions in New York State alone is $10B. For the US, $40B.
In New York there are 137,000 residential and commercial buildings 7+ stories, covering 1.4 billion square feet, in which these solutions could operate. And these building owners and operators are hungry for a more diverse set of solutions that make decarbonization easier and more affordable.
Find out more information on the market opportunity.
See the leading real estate companies asking for these solutions.
The $10M Empire Technology Prize is focused on developing and demonstrating centralized clean heating or distribution solutions that avoid expensive and disruptive installation in New York — solutions that can either work with existing steam or high temperature hot water distribution systems, or that do not require them to be removed.
The Prize focuses on residential and commercial buildings 7+ stories with centralized heating systems, in buildings with steam and high temperature hot water distribution. It is not focused on small, distributed solutions.
In discussion with the real estate community, there is significant demand for two new approaches to this problem.
Centralized heat pumps that generate steam (219°F/104°C) or high temperature hot water (180°F/82°C)
Distribution solutions that make it easier to adopt centralized low temperature heat pumps (≤120°F/49°C), without the need to remove existing distribution systems
Any solution that solves the problem of providing centralized, clean heat to tall buildings in a way that can either work with existing steam or high temperature hot water distribution systems, or that does not require them to be removed, is eligible for this prize.
Up to seven finalists will be selected into the prize, and will be collectively eligible for $7M in prizes.
Finalists will have 1 year to work on advancing their solutions and must create at least a lab tested prototype by the end of the 12 months to be eligible for the grand prize. No independent testing will be conducted by the prize administrators, but results will be analyzed by the prize team.
Finalists will receive $250,000 on selection into the prize, and will be eligible for up to $750,000 as an additional milestone award.
The milestone payment will be awarded upon moving up the progress chart below. Finalists starting at Level 2 or above are eligible for an additional $750k upon advancing one level. Finalists starting at Level 1 are eligible to recieve $375k upon moving to Level 2, and $375k upon advancing an additional level.
Finalists have the opportunity to work with our demonstration partners — leading New York real estate portfolio owners including CBRE IM, Columbia University, Empire State Realty Trust, L+M Development Partners, New York City Housing Authority, Tishman Speyer, and Vornado Realty Trust— to find opportunities to install their solution in buildings in New York City and/or New York State.
An additional $2M pool - up to $500k per project - is available to help offset the costs incurred by finalists and real estate partners in installing pilots and demonstrations in the New York market.
In addition to the monetary awards, finalists are able to access programming designed to help with both the technical advancement of their solutions and commercialization in the New York market. This programming includes elements such as feedback from NY engineers and real estate owner/operators, introductions to investors and capital providers, connections to Original Equipment Manufacturers for partnership opportunities, and recommendations for 3rd party testing and certification.
The scoring for the initial application and the final winners is based on three key elements:
The cumulative GHG reduction potential by 2040, based on the technical potential of the solution, anticipated year of market entry, Total addressable market in New York State's tall buildings, and embodied refrigerant emissions
Projected market demand, based on ease of implementation, cost effectiveness, New York State market interest, and ancillary benefits
Ability to supply the solution to the New York State market, based on production feasibility, materials used, and presence in or expansion plans for New York State
A Grand Winner will be awarded an additional $1M
Read detailed information on the evaluation criteria, including minimum criteria that all solutions must meet.
Although applications to the prize are now closed, all information on the market opportunity, the Prize application and evaluation process, and competition rules are available as a resource for Prize designers and those interested in the broader opportunity.