Case Study: SL Green Realty cuts emissions and energy costs with Trane’s Thermal Energy Storage system

SL Green Realty cuts central plant energy use 25% with Trane Commercial

SL Green Realty, a major commercial real estate owner, faced the challenge of significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions and energy consumption at their iconic 11 Madison Avenue building to meet aggressive New York City sustainability mandates. Partnering with Trane Commercial, they sought an innovative cooling solution that would also provide substantial cost savings without disrupting tenants in the fully occupied, vintage property.

Trane implemented a customized Thermal Energy Storage (TES) system using CALMAC Ice Bank energy storage tanks and high-efficiency centrifugal chillers. This solution freezes ice at night using off-peak energy and uses it to cool the building during the day. The results for SL Green Realty were substantial: a 1.4 million-pound annual reduction in carbon emissions, over $730,000 in annual energy savings, a 10% reduction in tenant energy costs, and a 5.4-year project ROI. The Trane system put the building firmly on track to meet its long-term sustainability goals.

SL Green Realty