Improving HVAC Performance
A well-designed HVAC installation delivers the right conditions for building interiors to be used by humans: air temperature, water temperature, airflow speed and indoor air renovation. When either of these variables is not controlled properly, comfort and health issues normally arise. If your building has an old steam radiator system, it is probably oversized because these installations were originally designed for the heating load with open windows; airtight buildings are a relatively modern trend.
Improving Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
We tend to focus on energy savings when improving HVAC systems, but delivering indoor air quality is also very important. The consequences of poor IAQ can range from minor discomfort to health issues; for example, some air pollutants can cause allergies or asthma attacks if the ventilation system does not remove them effectively from indoor air.

Consider that pollutant control is only one aspect of indoor air quality. Monitoring and controlling humidity is also very important:

Excessive humidity stimulates the reproduction of mold, dust mites, bacteria and viruses. All are detrimental for IAQ.
On the other hand, excessively dry indoor air can irritate the skin and airways. Dryness also favors some viruses, and dust stays suspended in the air for a longer time; humidity binds dust particles together and with surfaces, making them easier to clean.
The US Environmental Protection Agency recommends keeping relative humidity between 30% and 50% to provide the best indoor environment for humans. Although there are both air humidifiers and dehumidifiers in the market, they tend to consume a lot of energy. For the best results and energy efficiency, humidity control should be engineered into the HVAC installation.

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Adequate venting is extremely important for combustion-based appliances. While main indoor air pollutants cause irritation or allergies, combustion exhaust contains substances that are actually poisonous, such as carbon monoxide.

Reducing the Carbon Footprint of a Building
The NYC government has established the ambitious goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050, taking 2005 as a baseline. The city infrastructure will require numerous upgrades to achieve this goal, and combustion-based heating systems account for a large fraction of emissions in NYC.

An HVAC upgrade that typically saves cash while lowering emissions is a fuel conversion for space heating and domestic hot water systems. If your heating equipment still runs with heating oil, converting to natural gas can reduce emissions and you no longer have to rely on oil delivery, since natural gas is delivered through underground piping. In fact, depending on what type of heating oil you have, an upgrade may be mandatory - No. 6 fuel oil is already banned due to its high emissions, and No. 4 fuel oil must be phased out by 2030.

Controlling Noise and Vibration in HVAC Equipment
HVAC installations involve plenty of moving machinery, including compressors, pumps and fans. If these pieces of equipment lack the right support, they can generate vibration that propagates through other building elements. For instance, an air handling unit with poor vibration control can affect the air ducts, the ceiling and even lighting fixtures, which also causes noise.

When major HVAC equipment is properly sized and supported, vibration issues are minimized. Although it is generally impossible to eliminate noise and vibration completely, they stop being an issue if they can be reduced to a point where they do not affect other building systems and are not perceived by occupants.

Final Recommendations
Consider that HVAC systems are technically complex and subject to many building code requirements. There are many system configurations available, which means there is often more than one viable solution for a specific application, but variety can also lead to confusion. Working with qualified HVAC consulting engineers makes sure you get high performance and energy efficiency at an optimal cost.