669 St Marks : EP Engineering, a leading MEP and fire protection engineering firm, is proud to announce the completion of 669 St Marks, a 5-story, 16,000-square-foot Passive House multifamily condominium property in Brooklyn, New York. The highly energy-efficient building recently won the NYSERDA Building of Excellence Award. Properties built to Passive House design standards reflect some of the most modern solutions for energy efficiency to-date and Passive House construction is one of the fastest-growing segments in residential development.
Working alongside Cycle Architecture and developer Masmark, EP Engineering constructed 669 St Marks with an airtight envelope, high-efficiency variable refrigerant heating and cooling, all-electric heat pump water heaters and high-efficiency energy recovery system.
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) awarded this high-performance, innovative property with a Building of Excellence Award, as it promotes the energy-efficient utilization of renewable resources, focuses on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and provides residents with an affordable energy system. The Building of Excellence Awards recognize the design, construction and operation of low or zero carbon-emitting projects. NYSERDA has awarded $238,920 for the completion of the building.
“This Passive House building will provide consistency in temperature and better indoor air quality throughout the apartments through sustainable principles,” said Chris Burgess, Partner, EP Engineering. “We are grateful to NYSERDA for recognizing this project’s innovation and we are proud to help deliver this for our client.”
Among the challenges that EP Engineering in navigating the project included coordinating Passive House requirements with new MEP systems to ensure the energy model meets the rigorous requirements for building certification; coordinating outside and exhaust air from in-unit energy recovery units ducted to each and every room and bedroom for continuous indoor air ventilation of each zone; and utilizing electrical as the sole energy source for the building.
EP Engineering was able to overcome these challenges by providing consistent temperature throughout an apartment and better indoor air quality, incorporating a Heat Pump Water Heater to eliminate the need for a gas-fired solution for domestic hot water, resulting in all-electric building.
About EP Engineering:
Founded in New York City in 2004, EP Engineering is a full-service MEP Engineering firm offering comprehensive planning, design and fit-out services in support of infrastructure and critical building systems. More than 20 highly experienced professionals work with some of the city’s largest landlords and operators to successfully complete scopes of work, including, but not limited to: HVAC, Electrical, Fire Alarm, Plumbing & Fire Protection; Energy Audits and Benchmarking; Green Building and LEED certifications; Telecommunications Design. EP Engineering carries a reputation for excellence in the Tri-State area, providing specialized engineering expertise for affordable housing and residential buildings, education and healthcare facilities, restaurant venues, hospitality properties, retail flagships and commercial high-rises.
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