A Landmark in NYC Electrification
The Robert A. Iger Building — Disney's new NYC headquarters — is all-electric, LEED Platinum, and occupies a full city block. It stands as one of the largest fully-electric office buildings in New York City.
All-Electric
Zero fossil fuels
on-site
LEED
Platinum certification
highest level
33%
Energy cost savings
core & shell
"As one of the largest, fully-electric office buildings in New York City, the project exemplifies Disney's corporate commitment to decarbonization."
The Critical Detail
"All-electric" does NOT mean "scale-proof." Every building that moves heat to or from water needs protection from mineral scale—regardless of energy source.
What "All-Electric" Means for Mechanical Systems
The Disney HQ features state-of-the-art electric systems that all share one vulnerability: heat transfer surfaces.
Heat Recovery Chillers
Capture waste heat for reuse. Heat exchangers are vulnerable to scale, reducing efficiency.
Dedicated Outdoor Air Systems
Condition outside air. Cooling coils scale, reducing dehumidification capacity.
Hydronic Distribution
Hot and chilled water pipes. Scale buildup restricts flow and increases pumping energy.
Domestic Hot Water Heat Pumps
Heat exchangers scale rapidly. Efficiency drops, energy use rises.
The bottom line: Every surface that transfers heat to water will scale. It's physics, not a design flaw.
The Hidden Efficiency Loss
The 33% energy savings number Disney celebrates assumes clean equipment throughout its lifespan. Here is what happens when scale builds up:
The math is simple: A heat pump rated at COP 4.0 with 25% scale loss effectively becomes COP 3.0. That 33% savings? Scale could reduce it to 25%—or less.
| Design COP | 4.0 |
| 1/8" scale = 25% loss | -1.0 |
| Actual operating COP | 3.0 |
| Additional electricity cost | +25% |
Real Proof: Marina Plaza Protects Commercial Cooling Systems
Location: Dubai Marina, UAE
Property Type: Grade A Commercial Office Building + Mall
Size: 165 office spaces + 5 retail units
The Challenge
Like all buildings with large HVAC systems, Marina Plaza's cooling towers and heat exchangers faced ongoing mineral scale buildup. Scale reduces cooling efficiency, increases energy consumption, and leads to more frequent maintenance.
The Solution
Vulcan mineral descalers were installed to support cooling tower operations. For a property of this size, industrial-scale models like the Vulcan S100 (6" pipe, 530 GPM) or S250 (10" pipe, 1,540 GPM) provide the necessary capacity.
The Results
- Cooling towers protected from scale buildup
- Improved heat exchange efficiency
- Reduced maintenance requirements
- No chemicals, no salt, no ongoing costs
Why This Matters for Disney and Other All-Electric Buildings: If Marina Plaza can protect its cooling towers in Dubai's demanding climate, the same technology can protect the Disney HQ's heat recovery chillers, DOAS units, and domestic hot water systems. Scale doesn't discriminate between fossil fuel and electric buildings.
Marina Plaza — Commercial cooling towers protected from scale
Why All-Electric Buildings Still Need Scale Prevention
Water Is Still Water
NYC water contains minerals regardless of how you heat it. When heated, those minerals precipitate as scale.
Heat Pumps Scale Faster
Lower-temperature water holds more minerals, which precipitate out when heat is transferred.
Continuous Circulation
All-electric buildings often use continuous circulation, which means continuous scale deposition.
Every Efficiency Point Matters
When you've designed for 33% savings, losing even 5% to scale is a significant financial and environmental miss.
The ROI of Protection
| Annual energy cost (HVAC + DHW) | $500,000 - $1,000,000+ |
| Projected savings from electrification | $165,000 - $330,000 |
| 15% efficiency loss from scale | $75,000 - $150,000 lost/year |
| Vulcan commercial model (typical) | 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 building size, water conditions, and existing scale buildup.
Selecting the Right Model for Large Commercial Buildings
Different building sizes require different Vulcan models. Create an account to view detailed specifications and pricing.
| Building Size | Typical Application | Recommended Model | Pipe Size | Flow Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small commercial (under 50k sq ft) | Boilers, DHW systems | Vulcan S10 | Up to 3" | 65 GPM |
| Mid-size commercial (50-150k sq ft) | Boilers, heat exchangers | Vulcan S25 or S50 | 4-5" | 130-300 GPM |
| Large commercial (150-400k sq ft) | Cooling towers, central plants | Vulcan S100 or S150 | 6-8" | 530-790 GPM |
| High-rise / Campus (400k+ sq ft) | District cooling, large central plants | Vulcan S250 or S350 | 10-14" | 1,540-2,200 GPM |
The LL97 Connection
New York's leading buildings—including Disney's HQ—are all-electric to meet Local Law 97. But the law measures actual emissions, not design efficiency.
With Scale Prevention
- Maintain design efficiency
- Meet emissions projections
- Avoid $268/ton fines
- Document Good Faith efforts
Without Scale Prevention
- Gradual efficiency decline
- Higher-than-expected emissions
- Unexpected fines
- No maintenance documentation
Even the greenest buildings need scale prevention to stay green.
Protecting Your All-Electric Investment
- Audit your heat exchangers. Measure delta-T annually.
- Include scale prevention in your O&M plan. Make it standard practice.
- Document baseline performance. Know what "clean" looks like.
- Train facility staff. Vulcan requires no maintenance—just awareness.
- Model your LL97 emissions. Factor in scale prevention benefits.
- Need assistance? Contact our team for a commercial building assessment.
Protecting NYC's Greenest Buildings
All-electric doesn't mean scale-proof. Protect your investment and your LL97 compliance.
About the Author
Waslix- Clearly Clean Water (Vulcan Mineral Descaler) provides non-chemical, maintenance-free scale prevention solutions that help commercial buildings protect their electrification investments, maintain efficiency, and meet LL97 compliance goals. Create an account for detailed model specifications and pricing.
