Ambient-Led Consortium Recognized in $10M Clean Heating Technology Competition
A consortium including Ambient Enterprises, Gil-Bar, and Flow Environmental Systems has been named runner-up in New York's Empire Technology Prize for developing a carbon-neutral heating solution that advances the state's climate goals.
A consortium comprising Ambient Enterprises, Gil-Bar, and Flow Environmental Systems has been selected as runner-up in the prestigious $10 million Empire Technology Prize, receiving a $100,000 award for their innovative clean heating technology. The recognition highlights significant progress in developing alternatives to fossil fuel boilers as New York State accelerates its decarbonization efforts.
The Empire Technology Prize, launched by The Clean Fight with support from NYSERDA, Wells Fargo, and RMI, represents a major initiative to advance clean heating technologies. Over the past year, seven finalist teams piloted solutions designed to reduce carbon emissions while ensuring scalable, reliable performance for New York's diverse building stock. The competition awarded $4.15 million to support first-of-a-kind demonstration projects across the state, with an additional $4.75 million in milestone funding available.
The Ambient-Gil-Bar-Flow team was recognized for developing a high-temperature hot water solution powered by natural refrigerant carbon dioxide. This system delivers sustainable heating while also providing domestic hot water and simultaneous heating and cooling capabilities, making it a versatile decarbonization technology. A demonstration project is scheduled to launch at Union Theological Seminary in Upper Manhattan, marking a critical step toward proving the scalability of carbon-neutral heating systems in real-world applications.
Governor Kathy Hochul announced the winners, emphasizing how these innovations support New York's aggressive climate objectives. The runner-up recognition validates the technical approach and partnership model behind the solution. Chris Bisaccia, CEO of Ambient Enterprises, stated that the achievement demonstrates the strength of their partnerships and engineering expertise in delivering scalable solutions. Additional information about the prize program is available at https://thecleanfight.com/etp.
The Empire Technology Prize represents a strategic investment in building-wide decarbonization, offering property owners new options that are easier to adopt and deploy at scale. As New York continues its transition away from fossil fuels, such innovations provide practical pathways for reducing carbon emissions while maintaining reliable heating performance. The recognition of the Ambient-led consortium underscores the growing importance of collaborative approaches to developing climate solutions that can meet both environmental goals and practical building requirements.