New York to deploy 30,000 window-sized electric heat pumps in city-owned apartments

New York officials recently announced the state and the city will invest $70 million to roll out 30,000 window-sized electric heat pumps in city-owned apartments.

This action follows a program initiated last year by city and state officials that invited manufacturers to develop new electrified technology to improve living conditions and begin to decarbonize public housing. Gradient, and appliance maker Midea America, were each awarded contracts to develop and produce devices for the New York City Housing Authority.

Gradient has created a heat pump unit that hangs from window sills and can be installed using hand tools. It plugs into a standard 120-volt wall outlet.

The equipment uses R32, a new refrigerant that efficiently carries heat with a significantly lower environmental impact than standard refrigerants. Leaders in other cities, including Jersey City, Boston, and Seattle, have said they are monitoring the project’s progress.

Roughly one in three office buildings in the largest U.S. cities are well suited to be converted to multifamily residential properties, according to a study by global real estate firm Avison Young. Some 6,206 buildings across 10 U.S. cities present viable opportunities for conversion to residential use.

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Biden administration beefs up energy efficiency standards on new federally funded housing

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Affordable housing advocates push for community-owned homes over investment properties

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Legislators aim to make office-to-housing conversions easier

Lawmakers around the country are looking for ways to spur conversions of office space to residential use.cSuch projects come with challenges such as inadequate plumbing, not enough exterior-facing windows, and footprints that don’t easily lend themselves to residential use. These conditions raise the cost for developers.