Dr. Vince Romanin of Gradient on Heat Pumps, Zero-Carbon Infrastructure, and the Triple Bottom Line

Dr. Vince Romanin, founder and CEO of Gradient, talks with Consensus in Conversation host Conor Gaughan about the clean tech startup’s innovative heat pumps, the potential for zero-carbon infrastructure, and why the triple bottom line is crucial to fight climate change.
🎙 Dr. Vince Romanin of Gradient on Heat Pumps, Zero-Carbon Infrastructure, and the Triple Bottom Line, Consensus in Conversation Season 3, Episode 18
HVAC is one of the most important quality of life utilities that we never think about- at least, until it stops working. It’s also energy inefficient and expensive, responsible for almost 20% of global GHG emissions, with decades-old infrastructure way behind the design innovation curve.
But Dr. Vince Romanin has a solution: reimagine HVAC as we know it by combining personal heating and cooling in one, easy-to-install electrified heat pump that reduces emissions by 95% - the Gradient system.
After earning his M.S. and Ph.D. in mechanical engineering and heat transfer from Berkeley, Vince worked as a development engineer at otherlab. It was there that he recognized the world-changing potential of innovative HVAC to decarbonize infrastructure while improving lives, and in 2021 he co-founded Gradient with the goal of building a better air source heat pump.
Hear why CEO Vince Romanin took to engineering at such a young age, what it takes to launch a clean tech startup, and how Gradient’s technology could change the world.
Episode Timestamps:
00:00 Dr. Vince Romanin on making HVAC exciting and cutting emissions
00:54 Conor Gaughan introduces Vince Romanin and Gradient
04:51 Early influences, model rockets, and engineering at Dayton
08:59 GE internship, thermodynamics at Berkeley, and climate change
15:22 Joining otherlab and recognizing the potential in HVAC
19:05 Launching Gradient and the two problems it solves
25:48 Fundraising, product prototyping, and a unique user experience
30:44 Why use heat pumps, decarbonizing infrastructure, and the TAM
38:41 Workforce development, sustainability, and creating impact
44:11 Interesting climate breakthroughs to watch
48:58 Where to learn more and end credits
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Consensus in Conversation is hosted and executive produced by Conor Gaughan. This episode was produced by Will Gatchel and Geoff Rock, with editing from Reasonable Volume.
Special thanks to the Consensus team, including Creative Director, Kate Tucker, Greg Herrigel on research, and Patrick Gallagher on strategy.
Consensus in Conversation is a podcast by Consensus Digital Media produced in association with Reasonable Volume.
Have a question for Conor or Vince? Or a great idea for our next guest? Leave us a comment!
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