NYC's Old Buildings Get Smart With Connected Heat Pumps

25%. That's how much energy consumption dropped overnight when a New York building manager set heating limits at 78°F using Gradient's connected window heat pumps.

New York City and countless other urban centers are filled with a peculiar type of building: structurally sound but climatically stubborn. Built when massive boilers represented cutting-edge technology, these structures are perpetually too hot or too cold, rarely achieving that Goldilocks zone of comfort.

The Horseshoe Revolution

A string of startups are tackling this with cleverly designed horseshoe-shaped heat pumps. They look like window air conditioners but don't block your view and can both heat and cool. Gradient makes one of these units, but now it's adding a game-changing twist: in multifamily buildings, every window unit can talk to each other.

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

Giving Control Back to Building Managers

The company is mostly targeting old buildings that desperately need HVAC upgrades. Gradient has worked with the New York City Housing Authority to install heat pumps in public housing and ran a pilot in Tracy, California, in a newer two-story affordable housing complex. They're also talking with colleges and universities—many with dorms that weren't built with hot autumn weather in mind.

Old buildings often have one electric meter, which can tempt residents into overusing heating or air conditioning. Nexus gives some control back to building managers. They can set guardrails to prevent people from overusing heat or AC—either intentionally or otherwise—while still allowing them to be comfortable.

In one instance, a building manager set the heating limit at 78°F, and the next day energy consumption dropped by a quarter. Romanin said Gradient's heat pumps are the "lowest cost option" for old buildings with boilers reaching end of life—a common occurrence in New York City.

Beyond the Building: Grid-Smart Technology

As a bonus, units that previously only had steam radiators now get air conditioning, future-proofing against worsening heat waves. By installing window units rather than minisplits, retrofits can happen within hours without requiring 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 draw, said Mansi Shah, senior vice president of product and software at Gradient.

That strategy extends beyond the building too. When the grid is overwhelmed by demand—which happens on hot summer days—Gradient is working on dialing back its heat pumps while maintaining occupant comfort. Using building information and sensor feedback, the company hopes to predict which units can reduce air conditioning demand, like those on the shady side of a building.

This demand response can help the grid serve more heat pumps without costly upgrades. "There's a lot of people who said when we electrify everything, the grid won't handle it," Romanin said. "I think it's very possible to electrify everything and make the grid better, make the grid's job easier, and make electrons cheaper."