Gotham Mini Storage, a self-storage facility in Manhattan, N.Y., has installed a cogeneration power plant that uses excess heat from the onsite production of electricity to warm and cool its building. The facility uses natural-gas-fed mini-turbines to produce the electricity used by the facility, company officials said. The excess heat released by the turbines is captured and used to produce hot water, which is then circulated throughout the building to provide heat during the winter months or fed into a chiller to create cold water for the buildings air-conditioning during the summer.
The type of plant installed at the facility is sometimes referred to as combined heat and power or CHP, the company said in a press release.
Not only does this system dramatically reduce the amount of greenhouse-producing gas emitted into the environment relative to conventional methods, such as purchasing electricity from local utilities or burning oil to fire traditional boilers, but it also provides for complete self-sufficiency as all electricity is produced onsite, said Stephen Schwartz, who co-owns the storage business with Jack Guttman.
The facility also installed advanced window glazing throughout the building to further enhance its energy efficiency. Customers get piece of mind knowing theyre storing in one of the most efficient and environmentally friendly self-storage facilities, and are also assured of having an extremely high level of reliability and consistency with respect to the climate-controlled storage and security systems that protect their belongings, company officials said.
Gotham Mini Storage, at 10th Avenue and 39th Street, serves the residents of Chelsea, Hells Kitchen and Midtown Manhattan.
