Older Multifamily Retrofits: A Chicago Case Study

 

Submitted by HRAI Member-Company

Midea

 

Elias Abubakar is an engineer who bought a six-building, 144-unit apartment complex in Lansing, Illinois in 2013. The buildings went up in the 1960s, and by the time he turned his attention to the HVAC infrastructure, a 2006 gas furnace installation was failing regularly and costing him maintenance budget he didn't want to spend. He needed to replace it — across all 144 units — without electrical upgrades, without opening walls, and without replacing ductwork that was serviceable but old.

He found the Midea EVOX G³ at the 2024 Chicago HVAC Show, introduced through an industry contact. His assessment after seeing the spec sheet:

"When we met Midea at the Chicago HVAC Show, we realized the EVOX G³ might be the only unit that fits — small enough for the closet but powerful enough for the load."

— Elias Abubakar, owner and developer, Lansing, IL

That description — 'the only unit that fits' — turned out to be accurate in a specific, technical sense. Here's what that means and why it matters for anyone managing older multi-unit residential stock. 

 

Four Constraints That Ruled Out Every Other Option

The Lansing buildings were built when residential HVAC standards looked very different. That history created four physical and electrical constraints that eliminated most market alternatives before Elias even got to efficiency ratings:

  • Mechanical closets measured 16–18 inches wide. Standard 2–3 ton air handlers don't fit.
  • Electrical service was 110V throughout. Upgrading panels across 144 units wasn't on the table financially.
  • Existing ductwork was aging but intact. Replacing it across 144 apartments would have turned a retrofit into a full-scale construction project.
  • The scale of the property meant every added cost per unit — a wire run, a duct section, an electrical permit — multiplied 144 times. Projects that look marginal in a single home become unviable at that scale.

The installer who assessed the property put it directly:

"It's rare to find a 2–3 ton unit that fits these small mechanical rooms."

— HVAC installer, Lansing IL

Elias confirmed the same from the owner's side:

"Most systems on the market wouldn't fit the existing closet. And upgrading electrical for the whole property was not an option."

— Elias Abubakar

 

What Was Solved

The official specifications from mideacomfort.us/g3.html are:

  • SEER2 up to 19.0, EER2 up to 12.5, HSPF2-4 up to 10.8, COP@5°F up to 2.14
  • 100% heating output at -13°F (-25°C) with COP up to 1.9
  • Exceeds CEE Advanced Tier and ENERGY STAR Most Efficient specifications
  • Electrical service: verify the exact indoor and outdoor model requirements with Midea or an authorized distributor; the reviewed product page does not establish a universal 115V retrofit claim.
  • Latching modular design ('Block N Lock') — components snap together on-site, screwless connection
  • Compatible with 485 or 24V controls — works with existing thermostat wiring
  • Computational Constant Airflow 2.0 — maintains consistent CFM regardless of filter condition or duct pressure variation
  • 6-way installation configurations with side-discharge outdoor unit option
  • Full product line compatible with R-454B refrigerant
  • Available in 1.5–5 ton configurations
  • 12-Year Compressor Limited Warranty, 12-Year Parts Limited Warranty

The official EVOX G³ page lists SEER2 up to 19.0, EER2 up to 12.5, HSPF2-4 up to 10.8, and 100% heating output at -13°F (-25°C) with COP up to 1.9. It also lists 485 or 24V controls, a latching modular design, and 1.5–5 ton configurations. Electrical service, duct compatibility, and retrofit scope must be verified for each project.

The Installation: What No Demolition Looks Like in Practice

The installer's description of the Lansing retrofit was specific about what didn't happen:

"It works with the existing 110V power — no electrical upgrade. The air handler fits directly into the closet. The ductwork matched. We reused the existing ductwork — no demolition. Simple wiring, simple piping. One technician can handle most steps."

— HVAC installer, Lansing IL

The practical sequence at each unit followed a pattern that kept the scope minimal by design. The old furnace came out. The EVOX G³ AHU — compact enough to move through apartment hallways and position in the closet with one technician — slid into the same footprint. The 24V control wiring connected to the existing thermostat leads without new circuit runs. The outdoor unit, with its side-discharge design, positioned close to the building wall in spaces where a standard top-discharge unit would have required clearance zones that weren't available.

"Side-discharge outdoor unit gives more installation flexibility. It works in tight spaces where traditional top-discharge units can't fit."

— HVAC installer, on EVOX G³ ODU design

The EVOX G³'s Computational Constant Airflow 2.0 technology addressed a specific issue in older duct systems: variable airflow performance across rooms due to aging duct pressure characteristics. The constant airflow motor maintains consistent CFM delivery regardless of downstream duct conditions — which is why the residents reported even heating across rooms that had previously received inconsistent coverage from the old system.

"This was much faster than a typical retrofit. No structural changes, no electrical upgrades, and the modular design really helps. For a large property, that saves a lot of time."

— HVAC installer, Lansing IL

 

What Residents Noticed After the Switch

The tenants at the Lansing complex — students, young professionals, and retirees — had lived with the old system's limitations. Their feedback after the EVOX G³ installation was consistent:

"The old system struggled in winter. Now the home warms up faster. It's quieter and more stable. Rooms feel evenly heated."

— Resident, Lansing IL

"It's a night-and-day difference."

— Resident, Lansing IL

The 'evenly heated rooms' observation directly reflects the constant airflow motor performance. In 1960s residential ductwork, airflow is often inconsistent — some registers get more pressure than others, which produces hot and cold spots. The EVOX G³'s constant airflow technology compensates for that variability at the system level, which is why the improvement showed up in how residents experienced the rooms rather than just what the thermostat said.

The Owner’s Assessment: Both Problems Solved at Once

Elias Abubakar made his final evaluation as an engineer and property manager, not just as a consumer:

"Maintenance issues dropped right away. It solved both technical and financial challenges at the same time. It's scalable for all units. Worth considering if you want to avoid construction."

— Elias Abubakar

The video presents this installation as a retrofit example. It does not establish universal utility savings or construction-cost avoidance; those outcomes depend on existing equipment, design load, electrical service, duct condition, local code, labor, and the selected EVOX G³ configuration.

 

The Policy Context in Illinois and the Midwest

Incentive and tax-credit rules change. Check current federal, state, and utility requirements for the exact equipment and project type before making an eligibility or savings claim.

For a developer managing 144 units in the Chicago metro area, the combination of avoided retrofit construction cost, improved operational efficiency, and available incentives makes the EVOX G³ case considerably stronger than the equipment cost alone suggests.

 

What This Means for Contractors in Similar Markets

The Lansing profile — 1960s construction, 110V electrical, tight mechanical closets, cost-sensitive multi-unit ownership — isn't unusual in the Midwest or the urban Northeast. It describes a significant portion of the pre-1980 residential building stock across North America. Properties that have been stuck on aging gas furnaces not because the owners wanted fossil fuel heating, but because no viable electrical alternative existed for their infrastructure, are now a viable retrofit opportunity.

For similar retrofits, confirm electrical capacity, duct condition, permits, controls, load calculations, and labor scope before estimating schedule or crew requirements. The filmed project is not a universal installation-time benchmark.

 

 

Back to Newsletters