Accelerator program targets scale-ready tech that quickly decrease emissions, improve economy
The Clean Fight New York, a not-for-profit accelerator supported by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and New Energy Nexus, has announced nine companies will join its inaugural program to help accelerate New York’s building decarbonization and energy efficiency in the next decade. Each of these growth-stage startups have demonstrated their solution’s ability to help meet New York’s nation-leading climate goals and are poised to rapidly grow solutions for building owners and operators to reduce carbon emissions and enhance energy efficiency.
The following companies have been selected for The Clean Fight to advance their technologies in New York State:
75F based in Bloomington, MN and India, uses sensors and machine learning to pre-emptively manage the heating and cooling of commercial buildings, ensuring people are comfortable and productive while significantly cutting energy use. Designed to work out of the box, it can and has been installed by 3rd graders.
Brooklyn-based BlocPower is bringing financially underserved communities the economic, health, and environmental benefits of greening the heating and cooling of their buildings, through leasing and managing air-source heat pumps with zero upfront costs.
Canadian company CarbonCure Technologies saves carbon emissions from heading into the atmosphere by permanently embedding it into fresh concrete during mixing, resulting in concrete that is both greener and stronger. It only takes one day to retrofit a plant, and costs nothing upfront.
Enertiv based in New York City uses sensors and software to digitize a building’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment, enabling equipment-level insights to maximize efficiency, resilience and deep energy reduction.
Headquartered near Boston, enVerid Systems is the first air purifying technology to clean indoor air at a molecular level. This not only results in healthier buildings, but massively reduces the need for outdoor air intake traditionally required to maintain air quality, and its resulting heating and cooling demands.
iHandal Energy Solutions headquartered in Malaysia uses its proprietary technology to allow for hyper-efficient temperature control of buildings by capturing wasted heat and recycling it for heating or cooling.
Toronto-based Peak Power’s AI-powered software platform turns buildings into virtual behind-the-meter power plants, helping to make the grid more resilient while unlocking new revenue streams for building owners.
Phase Change Energy Solutions based in Asheboro, NC use their unique heat storage materials to keep buildings at a consistent temperature, reducing heating and cooling needs. Their easy-to-install phase change materials absorb heat when temperatures exceed a desired target and release heat when the temperature drops below it. 1-inch stores as much heat as a 24-inch thick block of concrete.
Brooklyn-based Radiator Labs is bringing steam heat into the 21st century with smart radiator covers that disperse and regulate heat, preventing excess energy usage, costs and discomfort from the common problem of overheating buildings. Plus, it finally allows tenants to control the temperature of their own apartment.
The Clean Fight is focused on helping these ready-to-scale companies overcome their primary challenge: increasing their customer base. A challenge that is even greater due to the impacts of COVID-19. Through hands-on matchmaking with industry-leading corporate and investor partners and up to $500k in grants per company available to help fund resulting pilots, The Clean Fight helps to remove the core obstacles blocking corporates’ and startups’ ability to quickly implement new best-in-class solutions.
“Our partners are not backing down from their sustainability goals, despite the impacts on the real-estate industry from COVID-19. They’re taking the long view, leaning in and supporting the innovations that will help their businesses and others decarbonize” said Kate Frucher, Managing Director of The Clean Fight.
The Clean Fight’s partners touch all aspects of the buildings industry, including Tishman Speyer, Hines, Boston Properties, Rudin Management, Turner Construction, Con Edison, Schneider Electric, Gensler, Cosentini Associates, Baltimore Aircoil Company, CodeGreen Solutions, and HXE Partners. Investor partners include Breakthrough Energy Ventures, Energy Impact Partners, Generate Capital, National Grid Partners, Obvious Ventures, MetaProp, Camber Creek, and Broadscale. Sidewalk Infrastructure Partners is a strategic advisor.
Doreen M. Harris, Acting President and CEO of NYSERDA said, “Companies selected for The Clean Fight will bring new technologies to New York State and we look forward to their partnership in helping to deliver the innovation we need to increase sustainability, reduce harmful emissions, and create healthier spaces for all New Yorkers. Empowering building owners and operators with tools that offer benefits to residents through lower energy costs and improved air quality while scaling up equitable access to clean energy moves us closer to achieving the goals of Governor Cuomo’s nation-leading climate and clean energy agenda under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.”
Each of the selected companies is eligible for a range of tailored benefits, including:
- Up to $500,000 per company in non-dilutive grants, capped at $1.25M for the program
- Hands-on matchmaking with industry-leading corporate partners and investors
- Tailored technical support worth $30k per company
- Assistance navigating the New York market from top regulators and industry experts
- No equity stake taken
This initial focus on building decarbonization is the first of a multi-step effort by The Clean Fight to target major sources of greenhouse gas emissions in the Empire State.
About The Clean Fight
The Clean Fight is a not-for-profit clean energy accelerator designed to attract growth-stage startups to scale business in New York State. Supported by New Energy Nexus and The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), this accelerator is open to companies from across the United States and around the world who are aggressively advancing ways to meet carbon reduction mandates, while boosting economic opportunity and job creation for all. www.thecleanfight.com
About New Energy Nexus
New Energy Nexus is a non-profit international organization that strives towards an abundant world with a 100% clean energy economy for 100% of the population in the shortest time possible. To achieve this goal, they support diverse clean energy entrepreneurs with funds, accelerators, and networks. Started in California in 2004, they now operate programs in New York, China, India, Southeast Asia, and East Africa. www.newenergynexus.com