Energy Machines manufactures heat pumps, chillers, and cooling systems for medium and large scale buildings and industrial applications. Their systems can support multiple functions, including simultaneous heating and cooling, hot water production up to 180°F, chilled water production, and domestic hot water generation.
Energy Machines, Inc.
Centralized High Efficiency Heat Pumps
High-efficiency centralized heat pump and control system to intelligently generate, store, and reuse energy.
Description
Energy Machines' electric heat pump and control system enables buildings to generate, store, and reuse their own energy. The combined heat pump and chillers provide properties with simultaneous heating, cooling, and domestic hot water, operating on a continuous cycle, efficiently moving and storing heat from ground, air, and waste heat sources. A centralized, digital control system continuously balances heating and cooling to maintain stable indoor temperatures.
Key Differentiators
Real-time insights + optimization - The control system provides cloud-based monitoring with real-time data and visual dashboard
System flexibility - The heat pump's energy sources can include ground, air, or waste heat sources. The system also offers simultaneous heating, cooling, and domestic hot water production on applicable systems
Wide product range - Energy Machines offers a broad range of heat pumps and supplementary products
Use Cases
Electrify building
Install new, efficient heating/cooling in building
Regulate indoor temperature
Improve/replace HVAC system
Helps with gas line issues in building
Electrify space and water heating with a centralized system
Cost Savings
For a typical large building, Energy Machines heat pump projects can reduce annual operating costs by approximately 10% to 25%, including both utility and maintenance savings. Utility savings are primarily achieved by reducing fossil fuel consumption, recovering waste heat, and optimizing equipment operation through integrated controls. Operations and maintenance savings are achieved by reducing reliance on combustion equipment, simplifying seasonal changeover, improving remote monitoring, and reducing emergency maintenance associated with aging boiler and chiller infrastructure.
About
Decarbonization Impacts
Operational Emissions
Can reduce on-site building emissions by up to 100% when deployed as part of a fully electric heating and cooling system
Enables electrification of high-temperature heating (up to 180°F), allowing replacement or significant reduction of fossil fuel boilers
Supports elimination of on-site combustion when integrated with systems like geothermal, air-source heat pumps, electric boilers, and thermal storage
Achieves zero direct on-site emissions from heating in fully electrified configurations
Shifts emissions from on-site fuel use to the grid, where carbon intensity is expected to decline over time as electricity becomes cleaner
Project + Building Compatibility
Project Type
Both existing building retrofits and new construction
Essential Building Characteristics
Meaningful heating, cooling, ventilation, or domestic hot water loads
Sufficient mechanical and electrical capacity, or a feasible path for upgrades
Physical and operational conditions that support installation and integration
A technically feasible path to heat pump implementation
Ideal Building Characteristics
Medium- to large-scale buildings, campuses, or industrial facilities
Significant and simultaneous heating and cooling loads
Strong opportunities for heat recovery
Existing hydronic infrastructure and available mechanical space
Clear goals to reduce energy use, operating costs, or on-site emissions
A viable path to all-electric operation
Ideal Project Size
Buildings larger than 100,000 square feet or projects with central plant capacities above approximately 100 tons are often well suited for deployment. Smaller buildings may also be a good fit where they have high energy intensity, substantial domestic hot water demand, year-round cooling loads, process loads, or recoverable waste heat sources. The best opportunities are defined not only by size, but by the presence of meaningful thermal loads, simultaneous heating and cooling, available heat recovery, and a viable path to all-electric operation.
Minimum Project Size
100 tons of cooling or heating
Additional Considerations
System design uses digital twin of the property and includes cloud-based monitoring through Energy Machines Cloud.
NY Contractor Availability
Installation contractor availability in New York is generally strong. The primary consideration is selecting contractors with experience in large hydronic systems, electrification projects, controls integration, and occupied building retrofits. Energy Machines works with qualified union or non-union contractors and recommends early contractor engagement for complex or schedule-sensitive projects.
Other Screening Criteria
Energy Machines screens projects based on:
Building size and scale
Thermal/load profile and magnitude of heating and cooling demand
Simultaneous heating and cooling potential
Required heating and domestic hot water temperatures
Available heat sources, heat sinks, and heat recovery opportunities
Electrical capacity and infrastructure readiness
Available mechanical space
Hydronic distribution system compatibility
Domestic hot water demand
Ventilation and exhaust heat recovery opportunities
Controls readiness and integration potential
Staging access and site logistics
Climate conditions
Constructability
Decarbonization goals and drivers, including reducing energy use, operating cost, and on-site emissions
Example Installations
Installed By
Skandia Fastigheter, Newsec, BIG, Ramboll, Sandvik, Danfoss, SWEP, Belimo, Grundfos
Case Studies
Resident Experience
During Installation
The system can typically be installed in phases alongside existing heating and cooling equipment, allowing building systems to remain operational during construction. This approach helps maintain resident comfort, minimize outages, and reduce disruption during installation and commissioning.
Post Installation
Post-installation impacts include more consistent heating and cooling performance, updated controls, and reduced reliance on on-site fossil fuel combustion. Depending on the building and system configuration, projects also result in lower energy use, quieter operation, improved equipment reliability, and reduced maintenance needs associated with aging systems. Any utility cost impacts to residents would depend on the building’s billing structure and how savings are allocated.
Financing
NY Incentives/Financing Resources
New York has several incentive and financing resources that support heat pump and building electrification projects. Depending on the building type, utility territory, and project scope, projects may be eligible for NYS Clean Heat incentives, Con Edison commercial or multifamily electrification incentives, NYSERDA technical assistance or funding programs, NY Green Bank financing, and financing through NYCEEC or other clean energy lenders. Eligibility varies based on equipment type, project size, utility account, full versus partial electrification, and program funding availability. Because incentive rules change and many programs require pre approval before installation, available incentives should be reviewed early during feasibility and design.
Ongoing Costs
Ongoing costs include electricity to operate the system, routine preventive maintenance, controls support, water treatment, periodic inspections, and performance optimization. These costs are offset in part by reduced fossil fuel use and the potential reduction or elimination of boiler related maintenance, combustion testing, flue maintenance, and emergency service associated with aging heating equipment. Actual ongoing costs will depend on utility rates, demand charges, operating hours, heat recovery performance, system design, and the level of service support selected.
Upfront Costs
Upfront costs vary based on building size, system capacity, existing infrastructure, electrical requirements, and overall project scope. Because Energy Machines systems are custom engineered, pricing is developed on a project-specific basis following an evaluation of the building and installation requirements.
For early planning purposes, a medium- to large-scale heat pump plant retrofit may range from approximately $3,000 to $7,500 per ton for installed plant-level scope, including typical piping, electrical work, controls integration, installation, startup, and commissioning.
Projects requiring major electrical upgrades, distribution system modifications, geothermal systems, structural work, complex phasing, or broader building electrification upgrades may exceed this range. Final costs should be confirmed through a site-specific feasibility study and detailed project development process.
Payback Period
Payback period is often in the range of 5 to 12 years when energy savings, maintenance savings, incentives, and avoided emissions compliance costs are considered. For NYC buildings subject to Local Law 97, avoided emissions penalties may further improve project economics.
Final payback depends on project-specific factors including utility costs, incentive availability, building loads, equipment selection, and installation scope.
Operations, Management, and Maintenance
Operations and Maintenance Requirements
Operations and maintenance requirements are generally similar to other central plant HVAC systems and include routine inspection and servicing of heat pump equipment, pumps, valves, heat exchangers, controls, electrical systems, refrigerant circuits, and water treatment systems. Ongoing controls monitoring and system optimization are also important to maintain performance and efficiency.
Compared with fossil fuel-based systems, heat pump plants can reduce maintenance associated with boilers and combustion equipment, such as burner servicing, combustion testing, and flue maintenance. Preventive maintenance, remote monitoring, and periodic performance reviews are typically recommended to support long-term system reliability and operation.
Ease of Operations
The operational learning curve is generally manageable with proper training and support. Day-to-day operation is similar to other modern central plant systems, with most equipment sequencing and optimization handled automatically through the controls system.
Building staff will require training on system operation, alarms, seasonal modes, and basic maintenance procedures, but the system is not intended to require constant manual adjustment. Staff time may decrease over time due to reduced boiler-related maintenance and improved system visibility through remote monitoring and controls.
Service Support
In NY, there is a large base of commercial HVAC, mechanical, electrical, and controls contractors serving medium and large scale buildings. The primary consideration is selecting contractors with experience in central plant heat pump systems and controls integration. Energy Machines can provide remote monitoring, controls support, troubleshooting, and system optimization in coordination with qualified service contractors. Early planning for preventive maintenance and service responsibilities is recommended.
Data + Performance
Energy Machines Cloud continuously monitors integrated energy systems and collects real-time data across properties through a visual dashboard.
Moisture Management
The hydronic heat recovery system can support effective humidity control by coordinating cooling, dehumidification, and reheating within the same system. During dehumidification, the system removes moisture from the air while capturing and reusing the heat generated in the process rather than rejecting it outdoors. That recovered heat can then be used for reheating air, domestic hot water, or other building heating needs. This approach can help maintain more stable indoor humidity and comfort conditions while improving overall energy efficiency.
Refrigerant Management
Energy Machines is actively aligned with the industry transition toward lower GWP refrigerants. The current platform includes an A1 refrigerant option with a GWP of approximately 299, which provides a low GWP, non flammable solution for projects where safety classification, code requirements, or owner preference favor an A1 refrigerant. Energy Machines also offers A2L refrigerant options available today with ultra low GWP values, including options reported as approximately 7 or lower depending on the reference standard used. In addition, Energy Machines is continuing to develop future equipment concepts using natural refrigerants.
Future Proofing
Energy Machines systems can help future-proof buildings by providing an all-electric heating and cooling platform that can adapt to changing regulations, utility costs, and building needs over time. The system can support emissions reduction goals while integrating heating, cooling, domestic hot water, heat recovery, thermal storage, geothermal, and other energy sources within a single integrated system.
The platform is also designed to support future thermal energy sharing opportunities within buildings or across campuses, helping improve energy efficiency and reduce wasted heat.
Specifications
UL and CE certified.
For a medium size building in New York, the most applicable technical basis would typically be a modular hydronic heat pump plant selected based on the building’s heating, cooling, and domestic hot water loads. The system would be designed to provide heating hot water, chilled water, simultaneous heating and cooling, and heat recovery from ground, water, condenser water, exhaust air, or other waste heat sources. Final equipment selection should be confirmed through a building specific load analysis, but a practical medium building starting point would typically be a modular plant in the approximate 100 to 300 ton range, using multiple heat pump modules where redundancy, phasing, or future expansion is desired.
