\n<\/p>\n
New York City and others like it are filled with old buildings that are for the most part fine, except they\u2019re not all that comfortable to live in. Built in an era when massive boilers were cutting-edge technology, the buildings are usually too hot or too cold, but seldom just right.<\/p>\n
There are companies trying to rectify that using clever horseshoe-shaped heat pumps. Superficially, they\u2019re similar to window air conditioners, except they don\u2019t block the view and they can heat as well as cool.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Gradient makes one of those heat pumps, but now it\u2019s adding a twist: In multifamily buildings, it can link every one of its window units together. The startup shared with TechCrunch exclusive details about the new Nexus software and service.<\/p>\n
\u201cMultifamily buildings are an ignored sector,\u201d Vince Romanin, chief technology officer at Gradient, told TechCrunch. \u201cIt\u2019s a place where we can do better for the user.\u201d<\/p>\n
The startup is mostly targeting old buildings that need HVAC upgrades. Gradient has worked with the New York City Housing Authority to install its heat pumps in public housing, and it ran a pilot in Tracy, California, in a newer two-story affordable-housing complex. It\u2019s also talking with colleges and universities, many of which have dorms that weren\u2019t built with hot autumn weather in mind.<\/p>\n
Old buildings often have one electric meter, which can tempt residents into overusing their heating or air conditioning. Nexus gives some control back to building managers. They can set guardrails to prevent people from overusing the heat or AC \u2014 either intentionally or otherwise \u2014 while still allowing them to be comfortable. In one instance, a building manager set the heating limit at 78\u02da F, and the next day energy consumption dropped by a quarter.<\/p>\n
Romanin said Gradient\u2019s heat pumps are the \u201clowest-cost option\u201d for old buildings with boilers that are reaching end of life, a common occurrence in New York City. As a bonus, units that previously only had a steam radiator now get air conditioning, future proofing the units against worsening heat waves.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Techcrunch event<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBoston, MA<\/span> By installing a window unit rather than a minisplit, retrofits can happen within hours. They also don\u2019t require electrical upgrades, Romanin said. In buildings with old electrical wiring that can\u2019t support a full 12 amp load on a single outlet, Nexus can reduce the draw, said Mansi Shah, senior vice president of product and software at Gradient.<\/p>\n That strategy can extend beyond the building too. When the grid is overwhelmed by demand, which can happen on hot summer days, Gradient is working on a way to dial back its heat pumps while still maintaining occupant comfort. By using information about the building along with feedback from sensors in the heat pumps, the company hopes to predict which units can reduce their air conditioning demand, like those on the shady side of a building. That sort of demand response can help the grid serve more heat pumps without requiring costly upgrades.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a lot of people who said when we electrify everything, the grid won\u2019t handle it,\u201d Romanin said. \u201cI think that it is very possible to electrify everything and make the grid better, make the grid\u2019s job easier, and make electrons cheaper.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t|<\/span>
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJune 23, 2026<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n