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New York City and others it are filled with old buildings that are for the most part fine, except they’re not all that …

Built in an era when massive boilers were cutting-edge technology, the buildings are usually too hot or too cold, but s…

There are companies trying to rectify that using clever horseshoe-shaped heat pumps.

Superficially, they’re similar to window air conditioners, except they don’t block the view and they can heat as well a…

Gradient makes one of those heat pumps, but now it’s adding a twist: In multifamily buildings, it can link every one of…

The startup shared with TechCrunch exclusive details about the new Nexus software and service.

“Multifamily buildings are an ignored sector,” Vince Romanin, chief technology officer at Gradient, told TechCrunch.

“It’s a place where we can do better for the user.

” 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 …

It’s also talking with colleges and universities, many of which have dorms that weren’t built with hot autumn weather i…

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 — either intentionally or otherwise — while sti…

In one instance, a building manager set the heating limit at 78˚ F, and the next day energy consumption dropped by a qu…

Romanin said Gradient’s heat pumps are the “lowest-cost option” for old buildings with boilers that are reaching end of…

As a bonus, units that previously only had a steam radiator now get air conditioning, future proofing the units against…

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Learn from founders and investors who have shaped the industry.

Connect with peers navigating similar growth stages.

Walk away with tactics you can apply immediately up to $300 on your pass or up to 30% with group tickets for teams of f…

Boston, MA | REGISTER NOW By installing a window unit rather than a minisplit, retrofits can happen within hours.

They also don’t require electrical upgrades, Romanin said.

In buildings with old electrical wiring that can’t support a full 12 amp load on a single outlet, Nexus can reduce the …

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 …

By using information about the building along with feedback from sensors in the heat pumps, the company hopes to predic…

That sort of demand response can help the grid serve more heat pumps without requiring costly upgrades.

“There’s a lot of people who said when we electrify everything, the grid won’t handle it,” Romanin said.

“I think that it is very possible to electrify everything and make the grid better, make the grid’s job easier, and mak…