The Lafayette
Schenectady
Selecting Efficient All-Electric Mechanical Systems
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The Lafayette
31 Lafayette Street, Schenectady, NY
5 Stories
64 Affordable units
73,920 Total sq ft.
- Sustainable Comfort, Inc
- New Construction
- EDS Award: $250,000
- ENERGY STAR Multifamily New Construction
- EPA Indoor AirPLUS
- Housing 2022 30% Threshold
- (Carbon Neutral Ready + Health) Tier
Key Scope Items Studied:
- Comparative cost effectiveness and benefits analysis of geothermal system for heating and cooling vs. unitary heat pumps
- Efficient envelope to reduce loads
- Research and cost estimating on heat pump, energy recovery ventilator and domestic hot water options
- Improve coordination on MEP system options
- Regular coordination, design, and education meetings
- Embodied carbon modeling for system and material selections
- Advance interior health and comfort conditions
- Feasibility of on-site renewable energy systems
- Energy modeling
- Disadvantaged Community Location
- Downtown Revitalization Initiative Location
Project Description
Key Findings
View the full report of EDS funded studies:
The Lafayette, located in a New York State designated disadvantaged community within downtown Schenectady is a 64-unit, five-story multifamily housing development spanning 73,920 square feet. Developed by Rosenblum Group with architectural design by C2 Design Group with Early Design Support studies led by Sustainable Comfort, Inc. This market-rate rental project is focused on reducing construction waste and meets ENERGY STAR® Multifamily New Construction standards, EPA Indoor AirPLUS, and NYSERDA’s 30% threshold for carbon-neutral readiness. Including a robust, airtight envelope, air-source heat pumps, a rooftop solar photovoltaics system, and individual heat pump water heaters that together reduce energy consumption, provide renewable energy sources and ensure safe, comfortable and healthy homes. The building also incorporates smart controls, ENERGY STAR® appliances, and LED lighting. Residents will also enjoy large windows, a gym to promote wellness, and electric vehicle charging stations with close access to community amenities and public transit. Designed for resiliency, it features passive survivability, individualized water heaters, and an emergency shelter space.
Design Team Lead
Sustainable Comfort, Inc 
Project Team
Developer: Rosenblum Group
Architect: C2 Design Group
Early Design Support Project Scope
Funded Early Design Support studies for The Lafayette project focus on a cost benefit analysis comparing a highly efficient geothermal heating and cooling system with efficient unitary packaged air source heat pump systems with integrated energy recovery. Efforts will also be made to design an efficient building envelope that reduces energy loads and improve coordination on MEP system options. Research and cost estimating will be conducted for heat pump, energy recovery ventilator, and domestic hot water systems to ensure optimal performance and cost-effectiveness. The design team will hold regular coordination, design, and education meetings to refine these systems and foster collaboration. Embodied carbon modeling will guide material and system selections to minimize the project’s carbon footprint. Additionally, the team will assess the feasibility of on-site renewable energy systems, such as solar, and perform detailed energy modeling to optimize performance and meet sustainability goals.
Selecting Efficient All-Electric Mechanical Systems
NYSERDA’s Early Design Support funding provided a valuable opportunity to research and further understand the design decisions related to achieving a high-performing, sustainable, healthy space that helps build a strong community. The project has achieved the goal of creating an all-electric building design that reduces embodied carbon and provides a comfortable and resilient space for residents at an affordable price. Through the detailed mechanical system study, the team found that a simplified packaged mechanical system approach with integrated Energy Recovery Ventilation (ERV) provides efficient overall performance and a lower initial cost compared to ground source heat pump systems, offering a replicable approach to building electrification while maintaining individual tenant comfort and control. Paired with smart demand response thermostats and an efficient envelope, the simplified mechanical approach can be a replicable system throughout the region for decarbonizing multifamily housing.
The Buildings of Excellence Early Design Support Program
Buildings of Excellence Early Design Support (EDS) Partners are qualified design firms that are elevating new design approaches for a zero emission future in New York’s multifamily buildings that prioritize occupant health, safety, and comfort. Partners are eligible to receive up to $1.50/square foot in direct funding per project, up to a cap of $150,000 per project, to complete carbon neutral research, modeling, early-stage applications for third party standards, economic analyses, integrated project delivery meetings, and more robust marketing and promotion plans to disseminate information out to the market.