Smart heat pumps with a stylish design

Could the modern aesthetic encourage more people to switch to clean heating?

Spotted: Heat pumps are essential for decarbonising the built environment, but, for many people, the experience of choosing, installing, and using these systems can still be very confusing. And, on top of this, many homeowners are put off by the way they look. Now, US startup Quilt hopes to tackle these challenges.

The company has designed an air-source system with indoor units that are sleek, easy to use, and designed to fit in with existing décor – they can be painted or wallpapered and have an accent light to illuminate nooks or artworks below. The system’s outdoor unit, meanwhile, has a simple matte black design intended to be modern and architectural. All units are installed by Quilt’s own services team.

The system includes a Quilt Dial that functions as a thermostat for each room, and an accompanying app for individualised control and energy-use tracking. Quilt also claims its technology is some of the most advanced available, with the outdoor unit using the energy-efficient refrigerant R32 and the indoor units incorporating radar sensors to detect when individual rooms are unoccupied.

Earlier this year, the company raised a $33 million series A round led by Energy Impact Partners and Galvanize Climate Solutions. Quilt is using the latest funding to grow its marketing efforts and installer capacity.

Written By: Lisa Magloff