Ambient Enterprises, in partnership with Gil-Bar and Flow Environmental Systems, has been named a runner-up in the Empire Technology Prize, a $10 million initiative to accelerate clean heating technologies in New York State. The team received a $100,000 award for their high-temperature hot water solution using CO₂ as a natural refrigerant, which provides heating, domestic hot water, and simultaneous heating and cooling. A demonstration project is planned at Union Theological Seminary in Upper Manhattan.
The Empire Technology Prize, launched by The Clean Fight with support from NYSERDA, Wells Fargo, and RMI, aims to replace fossil fuel boilers with novel clean heating systems. Over the past year, seven finalist teams piloted solutions to reduce carbon emissions while ensuring scalable performance for New York’s buildings. Governor Kathy Hochul announced the winners, highlighting the role of these innovations in advancing the state's climate goals.
“New York has set one of the most ambitious paths toward decarbonization in the country. Being recognized in the Empire Technology Prize is proof of the strength of our partnerships, engineering expertise, and commitment to delivering scalable, real-world solutions,” said Chris Bisaccia, CEO of Ambient Enterprises. Tony Tanzillo, COO of Ambient, added: “This recognition underscores our shared mission to provide clean, practical HVAC solutions that meet the needs of building owners today while preparing New York for a carbon-free future.”
The prize awarded $4.15 million to support seven first-of-a-kind demonstration projects and $4.75 million in milestone funding. Johnson Controls received an honorable mention for its cascaded cycle and mechanical vapor recompression solution. These projects represent a critical step toward building-wide decarbonization, offering building owners new options that are easier to adopt and deploy at scale.
