Gradient heat pumps get new smarts to renovate old buildings

New York City and others like it have old buildings that are usually fine, except that they are not comfortable to live in. Built in a time when large boilers were the latest technology, the houses are often too hot or too cold, but they are usually suitable.

There are companies that are trying to fix this by cleverly using the horse’s shape heat pumps. Superficially, they are similar to window air conditioners, except that they do not block the view and can heat as well as cool.

Gradient makes one of these heat pumps, but now adds a twist: In multi-family homes, it can connect all of its windows together. Sources were shared by TechCrunch detailing the new Nexus software and services.

“Multifamily housing is a neglected sector,” Vince Romanin, chief technology officer at Gradient, told TechCrunch. “It’s a place where we can do better for our users.”

The startup focuses on older buildings that need HVAC upgrades. Gradient has worked with the New York City Housing Authority to install its heat pumps in public housing, and ran a pilot in Tracy, California, in a new two-story affordable housing unit. It’s also talking to colleges and universities, many of which have dorms that aren’t built for the hot fall weather.

Older buildings often have an electric meter, which can tempt people to overuse heating or cooling. Nexus also empowers infrastructure managers. They can set up barriers to keep people from using the heat or AC – whether on purpose or not – while still allowing them to be comfortable. At one point, the building manager set the temperature limit to 78˚F, and the next day the voltage dropped by a quarter.

Romanin said Gradient heat pumps are a “very cost-effective option” for older buildings with boilers that are reaching the end of their lives, a common practice in New York City. As a bonus, units that previously had a steam radiator now get air conditioning, future proofing the units against extreme heat waves.

By installing a window section instead of a partial split, the loan repayment can be done within a few hours. They also don’t want to raise the electricity bill, Romanin said. In homes with older electrical wiring that can’t handle 12 amp loads in one location, Nexus can reduce the draw, said Mansi Shah, senior vice president of product and software at Gradient.

This method can extend beyond the house. When the grid is overwhelmed by demand, which can happen on hot summer days, Gradient is working to connect its heat pumps while maintaining comfort. Using information about the building along with feedback from the sensors in the heat pumps, the company hopes to predict which areas can reduce their air demand, such as in the shade of the building. Such demand response would enable the grid to use more heat pumps without raising costs.

“There are a lot of people who say that if we electrify everything, this group won’t work,” Romanin said. “I think it’s possible to put all the electricity and make the grid better, make the grid easier, and make electricity cheaper.”