Gradient’s Window Heat Pumps are a Cool Solution for NYCHA's Public Housing
Summer is in full swing, and so is the age-old problem of keeping residential buildings cool without harming the environment, draining the grid, or causing system outages. But what if we told you that a San Francisco-based start-up has developed a window-mounted mini-split air conditioner that can do just that?
Gradient, a Shared Future portfolio company, uses heat pump technology to build products that are eco-friendly. The company’s first consumer HVAC device, the Gradient, is a replacement for the traditional window AC that not only keeps homes comfortable and healthy, but also reduces carbon emissions by 95%.
Gradient has also been making waves in the industry: in August 2022, the company was awarded a seven-year contract by the New York City Housing Authority, New York Power Authority, and New York State Energy Research and Development Authority to deliver thousands of cold climate packaged window heat pump units in the New York area. The team went on to win Fast Company’s 2022 World-Changing Ideas Award and was named one of TIME’s Best Inventions of 2022.
According to the International Energy Agency, the number of AC units in buildings worldwide is projected to reach 5.6 billion by 2050. However, traditional HVAC systems have not changed much in decades and are causing environmental damage. That’s where Gradient comes in: its window unit uses climate-friendly refrigerant and heat pump technology to create a product that is not only energy-efficient, but also aesthetically pleasing.
And here’s the best part: Gradient is now shipping units. They can be ordered via the company’s website for $4,997 MSRP. The consumer heat pump unit comes with a one-year parts and labor warranty and can be controlled via a smartphone app that provides daily heating and cooling scheduling functionality.
The company’s $27.5M Series A funding is devoted to the design and development of its second product, a window heat pump unit that decarbonizes heating and cooling in cold climate environments. Meanwhile, Gradient is planning a marketing strategy that will focus on multi-family homes, while it adds services like hardware monitoring, maintenance, leasing, and demand response services, including integration with virtual power plants. Additional funds from the round will be devoted to hiring new personnel.
With the HVAC industry worth $100 billion per year and growing rapidly, Gradient’s mission to reimagine the industry is both timely and exciting. So if you want to keep your home comfortable and healthy without compromising the environment, why not check out Gradient’s innovative window heat pump?
Image credit: Gradient