8 Annual MEP Supplement April 2026
Altieri Optimizes Building Performance with Heat Recovery Chiller Systems
By Kristen Butts
Altieri specializes in the design of high-performance building systems that often address simultaneous heating and cooling demands through the strategic implementation of heat recovery solutions. For facilities requiring both hot water and chilled water distribution, Altieri integrates heat recovery chillers as a central component of the mechanical system.
A heat recovery chiller is capable of producing hot water and chilled water simultaneously. Unlike conventional systems that reject heat to the environment via air-cooled condensers or cooling towers, this technology captures and repurposes that energy for use within the building’ s hot water system, significantly improving overall system efficiency.
For more than a decade, Altieri has successfully incorporated heat recovery chillers into a wide range of projects. Notable examples include the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia, one of the first
major art and education institutions in the United States to achieve LEED Platinum certification, as well as the 213,000sf Virginia Commonwealth University Arts and Innovation Building in Richmond, Va., currently under construction.
System performance is highly dependent on the balance between heating and cooling loads. In buildings where these loads are well aligned, heat recovery chillers can capture and reuse up to 100 % of the heat rejected from the chilled water system, effectively eliminating the need for supplemental heating under certain conditions. In cases where loads are not fully balanced, excess heat is rejected through conventional means, such as cooling towers or air-cooled condensers.
Proper equipment sizing is critical to achieving optimal performance. While compressors used for heat recovery operation are inherently less efficient than those in traditional systems, the ability to reuse otherwise wasted heat(“ available” heat) can result in a substantial net efficiency gain when loads are balanced. Supplemental systems, including conventional chillers and boilers, can be incorporated to meet peak or unbalanced demand.
Equally important is the development of a robust controls strategy. Heat recovery chillers offer multiple control modes, including maintaining either constant
Barnes Foundation, designed by Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects, is one of the first major art and education institutions in the U. S. to achieve LEED Platinum certification. Photo by Michael Moran / OTTO
hot water or chilled water temperatures. Altieri works closely with equipment manufacturers to tailor control sequences that align with building-specific priorities, and to enable seasonal or demand-based mode switching to further enhance performance.
As MEP systems evolve to support high-performance, more resilient buildings, owners should look at options for increased energy recovery. Heat recovery chillers represent a highly effective and sustainable solution. Through careful system sizing, control optimization, and decades of applied expertise, Altieri delivers designs that maximize energy efficiency, operational performance, and long-term value.
Kristen Butts, PE, LEED AP, WELL AP is principal at Altieri.
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