A Historic Investment in Clean Energy
On February 4, 2026, Mayor Mamdani announced $38.4 million to install heat pumps at Beach 41st Street Houses (712 apartments) as part of the Clean Heat for All program, targeting 10,000+ NYCHA apartments by 2030.
$38.4M
Investment in clean energy
86%
Projected energy reduction
10,000+
Apartments targeted by 2030
Pilot results demonstrate the incredible potential:
- 86% decrease in energy required for space heating
- 50% decrease in heating energy costs
- 89% resident satisfaction
The press release highlights that "the heat pumps... improve hot water reliability." This is a crucial goal—and one where additional measures can help ensure success.
💡 The Opportunity: Protecting the Investment
Heat pumps circulate low-temperature water through existing pipes. By ensuring those pipes are free of scale, we can help the new systems deliver their full potential—maximizing both energy savings and resident comfort.
🤝 How Scale Prevention Complements Heat Pump Technology
Heat pumps achieve their rated efficiency only when heat transfer surfaces are clean.
- Even 1/16″ of scale reduces efficiency by 12%
- Scale prevention helps maintain the 86% savings long-term
- Every dollar in scale protection protects multiple dollars in energy savings
Protecting the $38.4 million investment.
- Scale-free heat exchangers last longer
- Reduced wear on pumps and valves
- Fewer emergency repairs and tenant disruptions
Supporting the goal of "improved hot water reliability."
- Scale restricts flow in pipes, reducing water pressure
- Scale insulates heat exchangers, delaying hot water delivery
- Scale prevention helps ensure hot water reaches every floor
🏨 A Helpful Lesson from the Aura Hotel
Property: Aura Hotel, Budapest (brand new construction)
What happened: Despite being brand new, the hotel experienced significant scale buildup within just 6 months of opening. Faucets needed replacement, ice machines required monthly maintenance, and cleaning took hours.
How Vulcan helped:
- After installing Vulcan S50, scale began to dissolve
- Faucets and tiles now clean with a simple wipe
- Ice machines operate correctly
- Dishwasher produces spotless glassware
The takeaway: Even new systems benefit from scale prevention. For NYCHA's existing infrastructure, it's an opportunity to ensure new heat pumps perform as designed.
Aura Hotel — Scale prevention helped protect a new building's systems
🤱 How One Healthcare Facility Enhanced Operations
Facility: Mother & Baby Convalescent Home
Their goals: Provide reliable hot water, reduce chemical usage, and maintain spotless equipment for vulnerable residents.
How Vulcan helped them achieve these goals:
- Eliminated acid cleaning for drinking water containers
- Removed salt-based softeners from operation
- Achieved clean, scale-free dishwashers
Why this matters for NYCHA: Public housing faces similar challenges—aging infrastructure, limited maintenance budgets, and residents who deserve reliable hot water. Scale prevention offers a proven, low-cost way to address these challenges alongside major capital investments.
Mother & Baby Convalescent Home — Supporting healthcare operations
🏗️ Supporting NYCHA's Aging Infrastructure
60+ Years of Service
Many NYCHA buildings have original pipes from the 1950s-1970s. These pipes have served residents well for decades.
Natural Mineral Buildup
Over decades, even "soft" NYC water leaves mineral deposits. This is normal, not neglect—and it's addressable.
New Systems, Old Pipes
Modern heat pumps work alongside existing distribution pipes. Scale prevention helps bridge the gap between old and new.
A Complementary Solution
Scale prevention works alongside heat pumps—no conflict, no disruption, just enhanced performance.
🔬 Understanding the Science
✅ Supporting NYCHA's Mission
Protecting Energy Savings
Help maintain the 86% savings NYCHA's heat pumps are designed to deliver.
Resident Comfort
Support reliable hot water delivery to every floor, every apartment.
Chemical Reduction
Like the Mother & Baby Convalescent Home, eliminate acids and salts while maintaining equipment.
Extended Asset Life
Help NYCHA's infrastructure—both old and new—serve residents for decades to come.
A modest investment in scale prevention helps protect NYCHA's historic $38.4 million commitment to clean energy.
📊 Protecting the Investment
For just 0.13% of the project cost, NYCHA can help protect the full value of its investment.
How Scale Prevention Can Support Public Housing Goals
- Alongside Heat Pump Installations: Consider adding scale prevention to protect new equipment and existing pipes.
- For Resident Comfort: Help ensure hot water reaches all floors reliably.
- To Reduce Chemical Usage: Support sustainability goals by eliminating acids and salts.
- As Part of Preventive Maintenance: Extend the life of both old and new infrastructure.
- For Any Building With: Heat exchangers, boilers, or recirculating hot water systems. If it transfers heat to water, scale prevention can help.
Supporting Public Housing Investments
We're here to help NYCHA and other public housing authorities maximize their clean energy investments.
About the Author
Waslix- Clearly Clean Water (Vulcan Mineral Descaler) provides non-chemical, maintenance-free scale prevention solutions that complement electrification and energy efficiency investments in public housing, healthcare, and commercial buildings.
