Toronto firm pilots radiant cooling system in New York subway to harvest waste heat

A partnership between Toronto-headquartered Cascara Energy and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has launched a pilot of a radiant cooling system in the East Broadway station of New York City’s subway network. The installation places loops of chilled water-filled pipes in the station’s ceiling arches, providing a fan-less cooling effect comparable to the chill of a supermarket aisle and promising 25-35% greater energy efficiency than traditional HVAC units.

The first modules are expected to be operational by the end of August, with the trial extending until the close of 2027. In addition to improving passenger comfort, the system is designed to extract heat from the tunnels and redirect it for uses such as heating water or buildings, potentially displacing fossil-fuel-based sources. Cascara’s CEO Robert Croghan notes that subway walls normally absorb heat until saturated, and the new technology seeks to capture heat before it reaches the walls while gradually cooling them.

The concept mirrors London’s practice of harvesting waste heat from its underground lines for district heating, though New York’s approach avoids the high-energy fans used in conventional cooling. Success could encourage other transit agencies worldwide to adopt similar waste-heat recovery solutions.