Construction of the largest mixed-use development in the state of New York to incorporate a geothermal heating and cooling system is underway at a revitalized block of Brooklyn.
The 1 Java Street development will take advantage of the constant 55-degree temperatures below ground to heat and cool 834 apartments, shops and restaurants in five connected towers and buildings.
The geothermal system is made up of high density polyethylene PE4710 pipe manufactured by Versaprofiles Products Inc.
The project is one of five recognized by the Plastics Pipe Institute Inc., an Irving, Texas-based trade group that put a spotlight on the different ways plastic pipe and conduit contribute to the world and environment at its May 13-16 conference.
Plastics extruders nominate projects, and the trade group's members, which also include resin producers, engineering firms and distributors, vote on the winners in five divisions: building and construction, drainage, energy, municipal and industrial, and power and communications.
The 1 Java Street development won the division for building and construction with pipe installed from St-Claire of Bellechasse, Quebec-based Versaprofiles.
With an estimated $16 million in annual sales, Versaprofiles ranks No. 114 among the largest pipe, profile and tubing extruders in North America, according to Plastics News' latest ranking.
At 1 Java Street, Versaprofiles pipe was inserted into 321 boreholes that were drilled 499 feet into the ground and spaced 15 feet apart.
A total of 326,000 feet of 1¼ inch-diameter pipe feet was installed in the boreholes and another 31,000 feet of HDPE pipe in various diameters was installed for lateral distribution to form a buried loop that will circulate a solution of water and safe anti-freeze.
The loops are hooked up to a geothermal heat pump that acts as a furnace and an air conditioner.
During the summer, geothermal systems draw heat from the air in buildings and transfers it to the ground; and during the winter, the system draws heat from the ground and transfers it to the building.
Geothermal technology has been likened to an eco-friendly version of an HVAC system that cools and heats buildings without traditional window air conditioning units and natural gas.
Installation of the 1 Java Street system increased construction costs by about 6 percent but the technology will make it possible for the complex to release about 55 percent less carbon and achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions, according to the development firm, Lendlease.
"I think many residents will choose to live in this building because of its green credentials," Layth Madi, Lendlease development director, told CNN. "We know a lot of people are thinking about climate change and our impact on the planet."