Home / Technology / Old Buildings Get Smart Comfort Upgrade
Old Buildings Get Smart Comfort Upgrade
3 Feb
Summary
- Horseshoe-shaped heat pumps offer heating and cooling.
- New software links units in multifamily buildings.
- Energy use dropped by a quarter with new limits.

Many older buildings, particularly in New York City, suffer from uncomfortable temperatures due to outdated heating systems. A new generation of horseshoe-shaped heat pumps, resembling window air conditioners but capable of both heating and cooling, are emerging as a solution. Gradient has introduced Nexus software, enabling these units to be networked within multifamily buildings.
This innovation is especially beneficial for aging structures needing HVAC modernization. Gradient has piloted its heat pumps in New York City public housing and an affordable housing complex in Tracy, California. The Nexus software allows building managers to set energy consumption limits, preventing overuse of heating or air conditioning.
One building manager reported a 25% reduction in energy consumption after implementing heating limits. Gradient's heat pumps are presented as a cost-effective alternative to replacing end-of-life boilers. Furthermore, they can provide air conditioning to units previously only equipped with steam radiators, offering a defense against increasingly severe heat waves.




