Energy Impact of Heating Electrification in Mid-Rise Multifamily Buildings in Mixed-Humid Climates: Article No. 100181

Decarbonizing the electric grid in conjunction with electrifying residential heating is a critical step to combat climate change. Heating in multifamily buildings with the existing natural gas-fired central boiler is a complex process that not only leads to overheating in some apartment units but also results in energy waste and high gas bills. In this study, we consider a multifamily building in New York City, USA, to evaluate the performance of five different heating systems, which represent a step-by-step transition from the conventional to a fully electrified heating system, and determine their impact on the site energy consumption and source CO2 emissions. Results indicate that overheating in a multifamily building can raise the indoor temperature by as much as 8degrees C above comfortable limits. Transitioning from conventional steam radiators to cold climate heat pumps can reduce annual site heating energy by up to 70% and source CO2 emissions by up to 21%.