The $2.1 Billion Opportunity
On January 1, 2026, Con Edison's $2.1 billion energy efficiency and building electrification program went into effect, authorized by the NY Public Service Commission for 2026-2030.
$2.1B
Total funding
2026-2030
67%
Must go to
building electrification
3,100+
Heat pumps installed
Jan-June 2025
The mandate is clear: Electric utilities must spend 67% of their non-LMI efficiency budgets on building electrification. Heat pumps are the primary beneficiary.
"Energy efficiency is a go-to resource, is the first step to decarbonizing the buildings sector and will drive longer-term energy burden reductions for lower-income New Yorkers."
The Missing Piece
Con Ed pays for heat pump installation. They do not pay for long-term maintenance. The efficiency numbers on the box assume clean equipment—but scale doesn't wait.
The Heat Pump Efficiency Promise
Heat pumps are 3-4x more efficient than fossil fuel systems—when clean. Every heat pump relies on heat exchangers to transfer thermal energy. These surfaces are vulnerable to mineral scale.
The Physics of Scale
- 1/16" 12% efficiency loss — Heat pump runs longer, uses more electricity
- 1/8" 25% efficiency loss — COP drops significantly
- 1/4" 40%+ efficiency loss — System operates far below design
The math is simple: A heat pump rated at COP 3.0 with 25% scale loss effectively becomes COP 2.25. That 86% savings NYCHA celebrated? Scale could reduce it to 68%.
| Design COP (Coefficient of Performance) | 3.5 |
| 1/8" scale = 25% loss | -0.875 |
| Actual operating COP | 2.625 |
| Additional electricity cost | +25% |
That 25% shows up on every electric bill—for the life of the system.
Why Heat Pumps Are More Vulnerable to Scale
Lower Temperatures
Heat pumps operate at lower temperatures than boilers. Cooler water holds more dissolved minerals, which precipitate out when heated.
Continuous Circulation
Heat pump systems circulate water constantly. More flow = more mineral deposition = faster scale buildup.
Tight Tolerances
Heat pump heat exchangers have narrow passages. Even thin scale layers significantly restrict flow and reduce efficiency.
Without scale prevention, the efficiency you paid for slowly disappears.
Real Proof: Laiyuan Lakeside Hotel Protects Heat Pump Investment
Location: Laiyuan, China
Property Type: Lakeside Hotel with heat pump system
The Challenge
The hotel's heat pump system—responsible for both space heating and domestic hot water—was vulnerable to mineral scale. Without protection, efficiency would decline, energy costs would rise, and guest comfort would suffer.
The Solution
Vulcan mineral descaler installed on the heat pump system. For hotel applications, the Vulcan S25 or S50 provide ideal capacity.
The Results (after 3 months)
- "The heat pump has been running efficiently."
- "The pipes are staying clean."
- "No new scale has formed on the shower heads or hot water faucets in the guest rooms."
- "The eco-friendly Vulcan descaler has completely replaced their water softener."
Why This Matters for NYC Buildings: If a hotel in China can protect its heat pump investment with Vulcan, the same technology can protect the thousands of heat pumps being installed across New York City with Con Ed incentives.
Laiyuan Lakeside Hotel — Heat pump protected, water softener replaced
The Incentive Gap
Con Ed's $2.1 billion program pays for installation. It does not pay for long-term performance.
What Incentives Cover
- Heat pump equipment purchase
- Installation labor
- Permitting and engineering
- Initial commissioning
What Incentives Miss
- Long-term maintenance
- Scale prevention
- Efficiency preservation
- 5-year performance guarantees
The result: Building owners receive thousands in incentives for installation, then watch efficiency erode year by year as scale builds up.
The ROI of Protection
| Heat pump system cost (typical commercial) | $150,000 - $500,000+ |
| Con Ed incentive (typical) | $15,000 - $50,000+ |
| Annual energy cost (heat pump operation) | $40,000 - $120,000 |
| 12-18% efficiency loss from scale | $4,800 - $21,600 lost/year |
| Vulcan model (typical commercial) | Login for pricing |
| Estimated payback period | 3-12 months* |
Get Exact Pricing for Your Building
For precise pricing tailored to your building's specifications and mechanical systems:
- Existing customers: Log in to your account to view model-specific pricing
- New users: Create a free account to access detailed pricing and configuration options
- Need assistance? Contact our commercial team for a personalized assessment
Account registration takes less than 2 minutes.
* Savings and payback vary based on system size, water conditions, and existing scale buildup.
Selecting the Right Model for Heat Pumps
Different heat pump systems require different Vulcan models. Create an account to view detailed specifications and pricing.
| System Size | Typical Application | Recommended Model | Pipe Size | Flow Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small commercial | Restaurant, small office, retail | Vulcan S10 | Up to 3" | 65 GPM |
| Mid-size commercial | Hotel, school, multifamily | Vulcan S25 or S50 | 4-5" | 130-300 GPM |
| Large commercial | Hospital, university, district system | Vulcan S100 or S150 | 6-8" | 530-790 GPM |
The LL97 Connection
Heat pumps are the primary path to LL97 compliance for most buildings. But here is what the law actually measures: actual emissions, not design efficiency.
With Scale Prevention
- Maintain design COP
- Meet emissions projections
- Avoid $268/ton fines
Without Scale Prevention
- Gradual efficiency decline
- Higher-than-expected emissions
- Unexpected fines
Scale prevention isn't optional—it's essential to meeting the emissions reductions LL97 requires.
Protecting Your Heat Pump Investment
- Apply for Con Ed incentives before installing new heat pumps.
- Include scale prevention in your project scope from the start.
- Document baseline efficiency to measure long-term performance.
- Monitor delta-T annually to catch scale buildup early.
- Model your LL97 emissions with and without scale prevention.
- Need help? Contact our team for a heat pump assessment.
Protect Your Heat Pump Investment
Con Ed is funding installation. Vulcan ensures long-term performance.
About the Author
Waslix- Clearly Clean Water (Vulcan Mineral Descaler) provides non-chemical, maintenance-free scale prevention solutions that help building owners protect heat pump efficiency, maximize Con Ed incentives, and meet LL97 compliance goals. Create an account for detailed model specifications and pricing.
