HPWH DAY 2025 Key Note Speaker - Jigar Shah
The Advanced Water Heating Initiative is thrilled to announce that Jigar Shah will be the keynote speaker for Heat Pump Water Heater Day 2025.
Shah, recently named to the 2024 TIME100 list of the world’s most influential people, is an energy entrepreneur and strategist with a long track record of driving clean energy innovation. He successfully sold SunEdison for $389 million and also served as the founding CEO of the Carbon War Room, a global non-profit founded by Sir Richard Branson and Virgin Unite to help entrepreneurs address climate change. Originally from Illinois, Shah holds a B.S. from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and an M.B.A. from the University of Maryland. He most recently led the U.S. Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office, where he oversaw $108 billion in clean energy financing.
In his keynote, kicking us off on October 23rd, Shah will present heat pump water heaters in the larger context of key energy efficiency and decarbonization technologies. Jigar will also explore the synergies of water heating and creating a flexible and clean energy grid, and highlight how heat pump water heaters are key to the clean and connected home of the future.
Heat Pump Water Heater Day
Save the date: Thursday, October 23, 2025.
An entire day dedicated to heat pump water heater (HPWH) education and awareness on residential and commercial heat pump water heaters, with special events during the week leading up to the big day.
We know that collectively we have the power to create a clean energy, low-carbon future. On Heat Pump Water Heater Day we connect with advocates, manufacturers, installers, homebuilders, and HPWH owners to showcase ENERGY STAR certified HPWHs and the ways they help create a better future.
Join us to celebrate the greatest hot water machine ever assembled!
Sign up to let us know you’re interested and receive the latest updates.
Sponsored by:
10:00 AM
Monday, October 20, 2025
-
Heat pump water heaters (HPWHs) are undoubtedly a promising pathway to sustainable, efficient hot water solutions. However, walking this path isn’t always easy, particularly for low-income housing communities.
Join us in this pre-HPWH Day panel of experts from the field of affordable housing providers. These leaders will be sharing their real-world insights on how to ensure not only a clean energy transition, but also a ‘just’ one. This session will focus on Central HPWH systems (CHPWHs) and cover experiences and learnings in implementing projects that switch from fossil-fueled water heaters to HPWHs, navigating installation and maintenance, securing diverse funding sources, and fostering stakeholder engagement at various levels, making HPWHs a part of a healthy, sustainable community life.
Sponsored by:
-
Heat pump water heaters (HPWHs) are just beginning to make their way into commercial kitchens, where hot water demand is high and continuous. This two-part webinar will explore the unique challenges of designing HPWH restaurant systems, including meeting demanding recirculation loads, high peak energy requirements, and sufficient hot water storage capacity. Experts in this area will share introductory and advanced knowledge, keeping in mind the perspectives of designers, building codes teams, environmental health planners, and inspectors.
Break
10:00 AM
11:00 AM -
12:30 PM
12:30 PM -
1:00 PM
Tuesday, October 21, 2025
-
With their ability to use energy flexibly and act as small thermal batteries, heat pump water heaters (HPWHs) can "charge” during off-peak times with cheaper, cleaner electricity – doing so saves homeowners money and reduces grid congestion and emissions. In this session, we’ll examine key takeaways from HPWH load shifting studies and programs in 2025 and where the building industry is headed.
Sponsored by:
1:00 PM -
2:00 PM
-
During this time, we will highlight recent innovations and cutting-edge research addressing the challenges and hear directly from manufacturers developing central HPWH systems tailored for the food service industry. Join us to learn how the next generation of water heating technology is being adapted to meet the rigorous demands of restaurants.
Sponsored by:
12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
-
Don’t miss this full-day livestreamed training event focused entirely on heat pump water heater (HPWH) installation and technology, brought to you by AWHI in partnership with Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E). Taking place in San Jose, CA, the in-person event will bring together apprentices, journeyman plumbers, and contractors for hands-on instruction and real-world demonstrations — and you can tune in remotely from anywhere.
The training will cover all aspects of HPWH systems, including installation best practices, system design, and integration with advanced technologies such as recirculation pumps and drain water heat recovery. The training will also feature combination water and space heating systems and skid-mounted central HPWH systems. Participants will see side-by-side demos of leading HPWH brands and gain practical knowledge to apply in the field.
Whether you’re just starting out with HPWHs or sharpening your skills, this event is built for the trades and designed to move the industry forward. Join us on October 22 for an immersive learning experience in the future of water heating.
Thursday, October 23, 2025
8:00 AM
Welcome
Heat Pump Water Heater Day!
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:
11:30 AM
12:30 PM
1:05 PM
2:00 PM
2:45PM
3:30 PM
Keynote Introduction
-
Kicking us off on October 23rd, Shah will present heat pump water heaters in the larger context of key energy efficiency and decarbonization technologies. Jigar will also explore the synergies of water heating and creating a flexible and clean energy grid, and highlight how heat pump water heaters are key to the clean and connected home of the future.
8:10 AM
-
Heat pump water heaters (HPWHs) are gaining momentum—thanks to advancing technologies, updated standards, and rising consumer demand. But with this surge in interest, the big question remains: is the supply chain ready?
Join us for the opening plenary as we explore how the HPWH market will evolve over the next 5–10 years. A panel of key market actors—including manufacturers, distributors, retailers, programs and installers—will share insights on what it will take to scale up and streamline the transition to HPWHs. From overcoming logistical hurdles to reshaping workforce readiness, this session will examine how every link in the chain must adapt to meet the “Wowsers” moment.
-
Wowsers! Inspector Heat Pump Water Heater Gadget is on a new mission in 2025, and he’s got some intel on the latest advancements in HPWH technology.
So, let’s team up with Inspector HPWH Gadget and our Go-Go panel on residential HPWHs as they deploy their HPWH gadgets and march towards next-generation technological solutions that will redefine the market.
Join us in this brainstorming session where we discuss innovative designs, emerging technologies, and how our collective efforts will decode the future of hot water!
Sponsored by:
-
Our Heat Pump Water Heater (HPWH) inspector is on the case, exploring how to install energy-efficient HPWHs in multifamily buildings. Join us as we dive deeper into understanding split HPWH technology, where an interior water tank is paired with an exterior heat pump. Our Go-Go panel will discuss how split HPWHs fit well in multifamily, manufactured housing, and other challenging building types and how they have the potential for solving noise and space constraints.
-
Put on your thinking cap and join a small breakout room for a short networking break. This is a chance to connect with fellow attendees in a relaxed setting, explore a few curated discussion topics, and share your insights. No gadgets required—just your curiosity and conversation! We'll wrap up by gathering your feedback to help shape future sessions. It’ll be a fun and engaging way to take a break and make meaningful connections.
-
Central HPWHs typically store energy in large, insulated storage tanks full of hot water. While effective, storing hundreds of gallons of water takes up quite a bit of space. New innovations in phase change materials (PCMs), like glycol, allow HPWHs to conserve space and store even more energy. PCMs also enable higher temperature storage, providing additional hot water and improved load shifting capabilities.
-
The Excellence in Water Heating Awards will recognize residential and commercial water heating leaders nationally. Our hosts will present recognition in five categories based on recommendations from an expert panel of judges. Join us for a fun, celebratory moment to honor individuals and organizations leading the way towards advanced water heating.
-
Break time! Get up and stretch with us as we do five minutes of energy-efficient stretching and yoga.
Sponsored by:
-
There’s a lot more to central HPWH systems than just the heat pump itself. Especially in large multifamily buildings, recirculation and distribution are critical design considerations. In this session, we’ll discuss best practices for recirculation and distribution to keep performance high and hot water available without lengthy waits.
-
Utilities are deploying their midstream gadgets to promote HPWHs, and our "Go-Go" panel will help us navigate their strategies. This includes supply chain engagement involving key market players: distributors, retailers, and contractors. Together, we'll see how these efforts ultimately make HPWHs available and accessible to consumers.
Join us as we uncover the midstream programs, incentive structure, discuss a few bumps on the road, and learn how utilities have equipped themselves to keep moving forward.
-
Installers are “always on duty” and are key to the success of HPWHs' market transformation. This session will let these heroes put their feet up for a minute and answer your HPWH questions. Join us for some afternoon tea with leading HPWH installers as we discuss challenging installations and profile successful HPWH installer business models that are transforming the market toward efficient water heating.
-
Join us as we close our 2025 HPWH Day!
To celebrate:
1. We will choose contest winners for our free HPWH giveaway!
2. Highlight the great photos and videos shared throughout the day!
3. We’ll also hear top highlights and takeaways from what our working group leads have listened to from HPWH Day!
8:05 AM
8:25 AM
9:10 AM
10:05 AM
11:00 AM
1:10 PM
Become an AWHI sponsor
Check out the opportunities to support AWHI all year long.