Peabody Properties, a property management and real estate firm, showcased its energy-saving solutions at Christopher Columbus Plaza, a mixed-income apartment community in Boston’s North End. The Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE) selected the site to demonstrate the installation of an Air-to-Water Heat Pump Chiller (A2WHP) system, which replaces central boilers and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. The CEE, a nonprofit organization, reviewed the new equipment and expected savings during its 2025 Summer Program Meeting in Boston.
The A2WHP system, which is gaining traction in North America, extracts heat from outside air and transfers it for space heating, cooling, or domestic hot water. The installation was completed by The RISE Group, Inc., and is expected to support decarbonization and electrification goals. Peabody Properties’ director of facilities, Mark Dubos, expressed pride in hosting the demonstration, which highlights the company’s commitment to innovation and environmental responsibility. The project is part of CEE’s initiative to update performance specifications for residential HVAC systems, including A2WHPs, to accelerate adoption of high-efficiency systems in multi-residence dwellings.