In 2009 the Empire State Building underwent a multi-million dollar upgrade to save energy and meet carbon reduction goals. The project required an expert team of organizations leading the field of energy efficiency and sustainability which included the Clinton Climate Initiative Cities Program, Jones Lang LaSalle, Johnson Controls, and the Rocky Mountain Institute. Together they mapped out a plan to help the world’s most famous building not only meet, but exceed, their goals in record time.
Armacell’s ArmaFlex® insulation was written into the specification without substitution and used on the chiller, chilled water piping, condensate lines, and ducts. Its closed-cell structure and flexible nature allows it to be installed in tight spaces and when installed properly, it can last the life of the system, bringing years of performance with basic maintenance. And of course, it meets all the thermal conductivity requirements to save energy and control condensation, especially on below ambient temperature equipment.
ArmaFlex also met the indoor air quality expectations of the project managers. It’s fiber-free and non-particulating, meaning no fibers will be introduced into the airstream, especially important in a duct liner application. Because it’s manufactured with Microban® anti-microbial product protection, it inhibits the growth of mold and mildew in the insulation. It’s also GREENGUARD Gold certified assuring low VOC emissions.
The 2009 renovation was successful in terms of energy savings, easily achieving LEED® Gold, exceeding the one-year goal by 5% and saving $2.4 million in the first year! To follow up with current product performance and energy goals in 2024, Armacell spoke to Timothy Dailey the Director of Engineering at the Empire State Realty Trust (ESRT) which holds a portfolio of many NYC properties including the Empire State Building. When asked about their progress with energy goals today, Dailey said “we’re proud to say we are way ahead of schedule.”
ArmaFlex was an integral part of the renovation project, and it still is today. “ArmaFlex is a no-brainer,” says Dailey. “It doesn’t fail, it performs great, and it looks good. The aesthetic is really important to me, and when installed properly, ArmaFlex is clean and tight.” The ESRT engineers still specify ArmaFlex for not only the Empire State Building, but also for all of its other buildings in the trust.
Today you’ll find ArmaFlex on the chiller, chilled water piping, condensate piping, and ducts. And it’s been performing as well as the day it was first installed. According to Jim Rose, Chief Engineer who has worked at the building for 42 years, ArmaFlex that was installed on piping and equipment in the 1990’s is still performing and has never needed to be replaced! When a valve needs repair, they simply cut it out and patch it with new ArmaFlex for a seamless application. Proof that when properly installed and maintained, long-lasting ArmaFlex can last the life of the system, in this case performing for three decades.
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