News from AWHI and our partners

ACEEE’s Hot Air & Hot Water Forum, March 13–14 

Join us at the Hot Water Forum, a conference dedicated to efficiently producing, distributing, using, and reusing hot water. There are many sessions with participation from AWHI partners. Presentation topics will include:  

 — Increasing equitable access to HPWHs

 — HPWH load shifting meta analysis  

 — Best practices on HPWH call centers  

 — A unified approach to accelerated market adoption of central heat pump water heaters (CHPWHs) 

 — Bringing hot water system sizing into the 21st century  

 — Advanced water heater specification 8.1  

Find the full program agenda on the event website.       
Coming to Atlanta, GA, for the Hot Water Forum? We have an invitation for you to join us on Wednesday, March 13, from 7:00 - 10:00 p.m. at The Rooftop at Hotel Clermont. Come talk about water heating and heat pumps with your peers while enjoying the beautiful Atlanta skyline. The event has no host and is open to all. Click here for Google directions to Hotel Clermont.  

AWHI All Stakeholder Meeting

Thursday, March 7, 2023, at 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. (Pacific)
This is the quarterly meeting where we bring together working groups and interested individuals to talk about the transformation of water heating markets. Participants provide updates on water heating technologies, programs, and key AWHI activities. At this meeting we will focus on the many educational resources available for both residential and commercial heat pump water heating.  

Working Group Meetings

 — Residential Working Group Meeting. Tuesday, March 19 from 12:00 - 1:00 p.m. (Pacific). Clayton Homes will discuss their decision to install HPWHs in all their manufactured homes starting in 2024. 
 — Connectivity Working Group Meeting on Friday, March 8 from 9:00 - 10:00 a.m. (Pacific).   
 — Commercial Working Group Meeting on Thursday, April 18 from 12:00 - 1:30 p.m. (Pacific).

Let us know if you would like calendar invitations and links to join the above meetings. Find upcoming events and updates on our website.

Report: Heat Pump Water Heaters in Multifamily New Construction: Design Charrette Findings

After discovering the unique building design and installation challenges of HPWHs in low-rise multifamily housing, the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) saw an opportunity. To better understand the opportunity at hand, NEEA staff collaborated with Energy Trust of Oregon staff to identify solutions that overcome these challenges and increase the adoption of HPWHs in multifamily applications in the Northwest. 

Report: Energy-Efficient Technology in Cold Weather — Bridger View On-Site Research

NEEA contracted with JG Research & Evaluation, LLC, to conduct a study of the new Bridger View housing development in Bozeman, Montana. The purpose of the study was to better understand how a cold weather climate may influence the adoption and performance of various technologies, including HPWHs. This research took place over a period of approximately two years and covered each phase of the construction of Bridger View, which included 1) planning and design, 2) construction and startup, and 3) homeowner lived experiences in the homes.  

Report: Roadmap for Overcoming Barriers to Using Natural Refrigerants in the United States

This report was funded by the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) to assess emerging technology topics that have the potential to increase energy efficiency. It outlines the need for and steps to remove regulatory barriers around natural refrigerants, using propane refrigerant (R290) as the primary example. The American Society of Heating Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and Federal agencies, such as the Department of Energy (DOE), can play a positive role in advancing energy efficiency by expediting the regulatory reform necessary for the use of natural refrigerants. This, in turn, will enable advancements in heat pump technology, drive economic growth in the manufacturing sector, and reduce consumer costs. 

Video: 2024 Heat Pump Water Heater Buyers Guide

ENERGY STAR partnered with Matt Risinger from The Build Show, a home improvement influencer, to provide a short promotional video: 2024 HPWH Buyers Guide. In this video, Matt talks about new products from seven well-known brand names while addressing product technology, installation nuances, myth-busting, and ways to save on purchase and installation costs. 

On-Demand Webinar: Appliance Standards Update - Impacts on Gas Prices and Electrification 

Energy efficiency standards for gas furnaces and water heaters have hardly changed in over 30 years. The DOE is poised to update standards on these two home appliances and the new efficiency requirements could dramatically accelerate the use of heat pumps nationally. Electrify Now and AWHI explore these two important and interrelated topics of federal appliance standards and gas price increases in this recording. 

On-Demand Recording: January AWHI Residential Working Group Meeting

Watch this recording of January’s monthly AWHI Residential Working Group call and hear about ComEd’s recently concluded successful HPWH pilot. 

High-Efficiency Electrification Technology Training 

Through the U.S. Department of Energy’s Buildings Energy Efficiency Frontiers & Innovation Technologies (BENEFIT) program, New Buildings Institute created new resources with an electrification spotlight on HPWHs. They include sizing recommendations and a building code permitting and inspection checklist. 

Graphic: How HPWHs work

Heat pump water heaters use a self-contained heat pump to extract heat and moisture from room air. They release the heat into the water and send the condensate water down the drain. They are also know as hybrid water heaters because they have both traditional electric elements and a heat pump. Courtesy of Efficiency Maine.

Report: CalNEXT Propane (R-290) Air-to-Water Heat Pump Market Study

This market study investigates R-290 heat pump challenges. It seeks to demonstrate the market potential and their suitability—specifically monobloc air-to-water heat pump (AWHP) designs— as an end-to-end decarbonization solution for domestic heating, cooling, and hot water needs across California’s (CA's) single-family residential market. It also illustrates how the speedy adoption of R-290 AWHP as a replacement option for central and window air conditioning and fossil fuel heating systems is likely the fastest means of achieving CA’s HFC reduction target of 7.5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO2e) by 2030. 

Report: CalNEXT Commercial and Multifamily CO2 Heat Pump Water Heater Market Study and Field Demonstration

This work studies CA multifamily building applications of CHPWH systems with carbon dioxide (CO2) refrigerant. Two low-income elder-living buildings in San Francisco were retrofitted with CHPWH systems, presenting an opportunity to study the emerging technology in situ. The project team collaborated with the building owners, system designers, and heat pump equipment manufacturers to study performance and load-shifting capacity. The results were used to quantify system energy efficiency benefits, market potential, and electrical load management. This report includes recommendations for product design, program support, and additional future study directions. 

Report: Heat Pump Water Heater Market Progress Evaluation #7

NEEA contracted with NMR Group in early 2023 to conduct its seventh Market Progress Evaluation Report (MPER) for the alliance’s HPWH program. The findings of this MPER will help inform and refine program interventions in the market. Study objectives included estimating the 2022 penetration of HPWHs in the region with sales broken out by key attributes and evaluating the program’s performance over 2022 by measuring against a subset of market progress indicators.  

The U.S. Saw Record Percentages Of Heat Pump & Electric Water Heater Sales In 2023. Published by CleanTechnica. The “Electrify Everything” movement is full steam ahead in American homes, according to the latest data from AHRI which tracks annual shipments of furnaces, heat pumps, and water heaters. Heat pumps for space heating and electric water heaters have set new records, and gas equipment continued to decline as a percentage of new sales. 3/4/2024

A. O. Smith’s New 120V Heat Pump Water Heater Allows You To Plug It Into A Standard Outlet. Published by CleanTechnica. A. O. Smith just released a 120-volt plug-in HPWH. This is the second model to arrive on the mass market (the first to market, Rheem). It uses nifty technology to provide lots of hot water while still only plugging into the same standard 120-volt outlet where you charge your cell phone. 2/29/2024  

   
South Coast Air District proposes phase-out of combustion appliances.. Published by CleanTechnica. The South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) has scheduled a Public Consultation to present and solicit information and suggestions from the public regarding the latest changes to Proposed Amended Rule 1146.2 - Emissions of Oxides of Nitrogen from Large Water Heaters and Small Boilers and Process Heaters (PAR 1146.2). It is scheduled for a Public Hearing before the South Coast AQMD Governing Board on April 5, 2024. 2/28/2024     
  
Heat Pumps, Water Heaters, And Cooktops, Oh My!  Published by CleanTechnica. Recently, researchers at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory wanted to discover what motivates people to switch to heat pumps and induction cooktops. They surveyed 10,000 American homeowners and renters, who were selected to closely match U.S. census demographics. Find report highlights in this article. 2/5/2024    
  
New tax incentives to lower the cost of high-efficiency heating and cooling. Published by Longmont Leader. New Colorado Heat Pump Tax Credits are available to assist Coloradans who are installing eligible heat pump technology for space heating, cooling, and water heating. Heat pumps reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve indoor air quality, lessen demand on the electric grid during the hottest summer days, and save money. 2/5/2024  
  
Switch From a Gas Water Heater to an Electric Heat Pump. Published by Alameda Post.  Are you looking for ways to save money on your utility bills, improve indoor air quality, or make your home more environmentally friendly? Consider replacing your gas furnace or water heater with a heat pump HVAC or water heater. Not only will you save money, but you’ll be helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 2/2/2024  
  
This Home Heating Innovation Could Put a Massive Dent in Your Monthly Energy Bills — Here’s How It Works. Published by thecooldown. You may have heard about heat pumps, the incredibly energy-efficient devices that heat and cool homes. But did you know that they can serve as water heaters, too? Understanding the benefits (and costs) of a HPWH is crucial in making an informed decision for your home.  1/27/2024   
  
Heat Pump Water Heater Market worth $10.2 billion by 2028. Published by Yahoo!Finance. The heat pump water heater market is expected to grow by 14% per year and reach USD 10.2 billion by 2028 (from USD 5.2 billion in 2023), according to a new report by MarketsandMarkets™. 1/24/2024 

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AWHI is a national collaboration between building owners, utilities, federal agencies, state and local government, engineers, educators, manufacturers, and the supply chain with stakeholders from over 400 entities. We invite your organization to join the AWHI supporters below in helping support and guide this national market transformation effort.