LONG ISLAND CITY, N.Y. — With more than 11 acres of factory operations housed in a cluster of century-old buildings in Queens, Steinway & Sons is keenly aware of the need for energy-saving technology to power its piano manufacturing processes.

That's one reason the 156-year-old company is installing the largest solar-powered rooftop system in the world to provide cool air to dehumidify the factory and protect the precision pianos inside. The $875,000 solar system is partly funded through a grant from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, and through federal tax credits.

"It's critical that we find energy-efficient ways to dehumidify our plant, and the solar panels are the answer," said Bill Rigos, facilities manager at the Steinway & Sons factory in Queens.

The system, which will be completed in late spring, pumps solar-heated water into an 80-ton double-effect absorption chiller that serves as a heat exchanger. The chiller removes the superheated water and leaves cool air for dehumidifying. Lower humidity in the factory provides a more stable environment, with no moisture to threaten the piano construction process. In winter, the system will convert water to steam to heat the factory.

Steinway has found that a desire to cut energy costs leads naturally to green alternatives, and the solar panels are a huge example.

"We look at green initiatives as a way to recapture resources," said Todd Sanders, vice president of sales and marketing for Steinway. "We're not doing it to be flashy. We're doing it because it makes good business sense and helps to maintain the excellence of our products."