NEW YORK, NY — A third-party engineering report has confirmed 18% cooling energy savings and a 9-year extension in HVAC equipment life following a non-invasive retrofit at a New York City media facility. The system—totaling more than 3,000 tons of cooling—was nearing end-of-life in 2016, but remains in operation nine years later, deferring major capital replacement.

This case represents a scalable, low-disruption approach to decarbonization for commercial, industrial, and mission-critical facilities. The findings are especially timely as global demand for cooling continues to climb.

The report was authored by engineering firm TRC and supported by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) through its Industrial and Process Efficiency (IPE) program. Ener.co, the retrofit provider, has made a redacted version of the report publicly available—offering a rare, transparent look into long-term performance outcomes from a passive HVAC efficiency upgrade.

“Real-world HVAC performance data rarely sees daylight—especially when it spans nearly a decade and shows clear, verified savings,” said Patrick Manian, Chief Operations Officer at Ener.co. “This case offers utilities and partners something rare—publicly validated, replicable results.”

The Urgency of Cooling Efficiency

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), global energy demand for cooling is projected to triple by 2050. Urbanization, data center expansion, and intensifying climate conditions are accelerating the need for air conditioning—placing greater strain on electric grids and increasing indirect emissions.

The IEA also notes that improving AC efficiency could offset nearly half of that projected demand—potentially saving up to $2.9 trillion globally. Yet widespread losses from coil degradation, corrosion, and ambient exposure remain largely unaddressed in existing HVAC systems.

“There’s a hidden opportunity in existing HVAC infrastructure,” said Patrick Rathje, President of Ener.co. “Our mission is to help enterprises rethink cooling—not as a fixed liability, but as a flexible opportunity for sustainability and savings.”