HPWHs currently represent only 2% of the more than seven million water heaters that are replaced in the United States each year. Let’s change that.
The two major markets for HPWHs include single family and multifamily residences, which currently house over 118 million water heaters. More than 25 million of those systems are over 10 years old and will need to be replaced in the next five years providing an opportunity to reduce the carbon footprint of water heating substantially.
Technology
AWHI working groups address specific aspects of heat pump water heating market transformation through policy, market, and technology approaches. These groups are comprised of manufacturers, utilities, efficiency advocates and other subject matter experts working to break down the barriers in order to accelerate HPWH adoption. The groups include the following.
Residential 240-Volt
Market deployment of 240-volt unitary heat pump water heaters
The Residential 240-volt work group, is working to increase the installation of 240-volt HPWHs in residential applications. These are often referred to as Unitary HPWHs.
Policy and program levers are essential to increasing market penetration and equitable transition to HPWHs. New residential construction and replacing existing electric water heaters are the primary market segments that will result in the fastest increase in installations. This work group is laying the foundation of HPWHs as the new industry norm. Consistent approaches in programs design and incentives are developed to stimulate the entire supply chain, including manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and installers. In addition AWHI will offer workforce education and training programs that respond to regional variations and applications to guide market participants.
Residential 120-Volt
120-volt unitary “plug-in” heat pump water heaters research
The residential 120-volt unitary “plug-in” HPWH work group is developing a “Retrofit Ready” HPWH for existing homes that need to replace a gas water heater. Gas-to-electric heat pump water heaters replacements can be more complicated, especially when the home does not have the adequate electric panel capacity and outlets. This work group has developed a “Retrofit Ready” HPWH specification that can easily plug into an existing 120-volt electrical outlet. Multiple manufacturers are quickly manufacturing HPWHs to meet this specification. The new 120-volt HPWHs are planned for demonstration and testing in the next year to ensure they meet consumer needs. This new product is critical to increase the installation of HPWS in existing residences.
Commercial HPWHs
Central HPWHs for multifamily applications
Commercial HPWH systems are ideally suited for multifamily applications such as apartment buildings, hotels and dormitories. Centrally located systems can provide occupants with high comfort at a low cost while decreasing carbon emissions and improving the living environment.
The Commercial HPWH work group is using a multi-disciplinary approach working with developers, municipalities, design firms and manufacturers to develop plug-and-play “packaged” systems. The approach focuses on three key areas: price, product and customer. Partners have spearheaded development of free tools like the Ecosizer for sizing central water heating systems.
To learn more please visit the Central Heat Pump Working Group webpage.
Connectivity and controls
Optimizing HPWHs potential for building-grid integration
The Connectivity and Controls work group is focused on the communication capability of all types of HPWHs so they can respond to time-of-use rate and demand signals. This will ensure that the technology harmonizes the energy supply side load and carbon impact of electricity generation. This work group is working upstream of all HPWHs products to develop, validate, and deliver grid integrated control hardware, software, and protocols.
Emerging Technology.
The Retrofit-ready heat pump water heater
The retrofit-ready, plug-in 120-volt HPWH technology is in development by manufacturers and anticipated to be market-ready later in the near future. This is an important advancement because the low-power, 120-volt design can plug-in to existing wall outlets without requiring panel upgrades and/or home rewiring. This represents an ideal solution for retrofit applications to replace existing fossil fuel-fired, tank type water heaters. The technology is expected to be well suited to smaller homes with lower hot water demand. This emerging technology, when validated, has tremendous potential to reduce carbon and other greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to conventional gas-fired water heaters. The field assessment of this emerging technology intends to assess the opportunity for this new class of water heaters as a plug-and-play solution to meet the retrofit market’s needs.
Learn more in this webinar (free registration is required)—The Retrofit-ready Heat Pump Water Heater: 120 Volts to the Future
