Commercial HVAC utility incentives in Manhattan
Manhattan restaurants and offices often run packaged rooftop units or split systems serving a single tenant space; controls retrofits like advanced rooftop controls and demand-controlled ventilation fit those without replacing the equipment.
We assess your rooftop units, air handlers, fans and controls, match what you have to the measures the program incentivizes, and manage the application and installation with licensed mechanical and electrical subcontractors.
Commercial HVAC Incentives in Manhattan: what to know
Manhattan's small commercial customers are mostly ground-floor tenants — restaurants, retail, salons, medical and professional offices — inside larger mixed-use buildings, alongside a deep stock of prewar walk-ups and elevator apartment buildings uptown.
Con Edison supplies electricity across Manhattan and gas service in the borough as well, so both electric and gas-saving measures can be in play if your gas account is firm service with Con Edison.
Permits and local rules in Manhattan
Mechanical and electrical work in Manhattan follows NYC Department of Buildings rules, and many buildings over 25,000 sq ft are covered by Local Law 97 emissions limits.
Lighting in 2026
Con Edison's 2026 Small Business lighting incentives are offered only in the Jamaica Neighborhood (Southeast Queens) area, so for Manhattan businesses we focus on HVAC, refrigeration, envelope and electrification measures.
Local Law 97
Many Manhattan buildings over 25,000 sq ft are covered by NYC's Local Law 97 emissions limits. Efficiency and electrification upgrades lower a building's emissions — we show the expected savings of each measure so you can plan around your limits.
Where we work in Manhattan
- Harlem
- Washington Heights
- Inwood
- East Harlem
- Lower East Side
- Chinatown
- Midtown
- Chelsea
What's typically included
Rooftop unit controls
Advanced rooftop controls (ARC) and dual-enthalpy economizers that cut fan and compressor run time on existing RTUs with useful life left.
Ventilation
Demand-controlled ventilation for dining rooms, gyms and assembly spaces, and kitchen demand-control ventilation for commercial hoods.
Motors & drives
EC motors and variable frequency drives on fans and pumps — among the quickest paybacks in most buildings.
Controls
Energy management systems, advanced thermostats and guest-room energy management for hotels.
What Con Edison's program rules say
Con Edison's 2026 Small Business factsheet lists HVAC measures including advanced rooftop controls, demand-controlled ventilation, EC motors, energy management systems, economizer controls, duct sealing and VFDs.
Incentives are based on the energy each measure is expected to save, so the same upgrade can be worth different amounts in different buildings.
Heat pump incentives require decommissioning the existing fossil-fuel heating system.
Program rules as published for 2026; Con Edison can change incentives and terms. We confirm current terms before every proposal.
Check eligibility for your Manhattan property
Commercial HVAC Incentives in Manhattan: FAQ
Can Manhattan businesses get commercial hvac incentives through Con Edison?
Con Edison supplies electricity across Manhattan and gas service in the borough as well, so both electric and gas-saving measures can be in play if your gas account is firm service with Con Edison. If your electric bill comes from Con Edison, you can apply.
Does Clean Ridge work in all of Manhattan?
Yes — from Inwood to the Battery. Every Manhattan address is in Con Edison's electric territory.
My landlord pays the electric bill — can I still apply?
The program application is signed by the Con Edison account holder or the owner. If your landlord holds the account, we can prepare the paperwork for their signature.
Which HVAC upgrades qualify for Con Edison incentives?
For small businesses, the 2026 factsheet includes advanced rooftop controls, demand-controlled ventilation, economizer controls, EC motors, VFDs, energy management systems, advanced thermostats, duct sealing and kitchen ventilation controls, plus heat pumps under electrification. We confirm which apply to your equipment on the walkthrough.
Can I get incentives for replacing a broken rooftop unit?
The Small Business program generally pays toward replacing working equipment with more efficient equipment, not toward repairing or replacing failed units. If a unit is near the end of its life, it's worth looking at options before it fails.
Talk to Clean Ridge about your Manhattan business
Call now — we'll tell you which Con Edison programs your property may qualify for and what the next step is.