SUNNY SIDE UP
The sunny side of music
Steinway installs
world’s largest
solar cooling
W
ith more than 11 acres of factory “Steinway has always been an innovative and
system
operations housed in a cluster of progressive company; it’s part of the company’s
century-old buildings in Queens, Steinway & Sons culture,” said Andrew Horbachevsky, Steinway’s
is keenly aware of the need for energy-saving Vice President of Manufacturing. “This begins with
Issue I 2009
technology to power its piano manufacturing a bold vision. Our objective is to continue to
processes. That’s one reason the 156-year-old challenge the status quo, whether in piano
company has installed the largest solar-powered performance and quality, product offerings or
rooftop system in the world to provide cool air to factory operational efficiency. Using renewable
dehumidify the factory and protect the precision energy sources reflects this same sensibility.”
pianos inside. The $875,000 solar system is partly
funded through a grant from the New York State Steinway has found that a desire to cut energy
-pv-management.com Energy Research and Development Authority, and costs leads naturally to green alternatives, and the
through federal tax credits. It will function as a beta solar panels are a huge example.
.solar
site for the tri-state area.
www
“We look at green initiatives as a way to recapture
“It’s critical that we find energy-efficient ways to resources,” said Todd Sanders, Vice President of
42
dehumidify our plant, and the solar panels are the Sales and Marketing for Steinway. “We’re not
answer,” said Bill Rigos, Facilities Manager at the doing it to be flashy. We’re doing it because it
Steinway & Sons factory in Queens. makes good business sense and helps to maintain
the excellence of our products.”
The system, which will be completed in late spring,
pumps solar-heated water into an 80 tonne double
effect absorption chiller that serves as a heat
exchanger. The chiller removes the superheated
water and leaves cool air for dehumidifying. Lower
humidity in the factory provides a more stable
environment, with no moisture to threaten the
precision construction of the famed Steinway
pianos. In winter, the system will convert water to
steam to heat the factory.
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