| An Affordable Heat-Pump Water-Heater | | | | EBN that he also intends to use the |
| Retrofit | | | | product(from: in a 100-unit subdivision |
| The engineers at AirGenerate (previously | | | | that is in the works. |
| Beyond Pollution) appear to have done | | | | Skyland Falls is installing the AirTap |
| something remarkable: create an | | | | units on new, 40- and 50-gallon (150 and |
| affordable, effective, heat-pump water | | | | 190 l) electric water heaters, set up so |
| heater that can be retrofit onto a | | | | that the standard electric element |
| conventional gas or electric water | | | | provides a backup. The controls on the |
| heater, more than doubling the energy | | | | water heater are set so that the |
| performance compared with a standard | | | | standard element will come on at 100°F |
| electric water heater. The AirTap A7 | | | | (38°C), while the AirTap is set to heat |
| water heater has a rated output of 7,000 | | | | water to 130°F (54°C). If the |
| Btu/hour (7.4 MJ/hour), a first-hour | | | | heat-pump module stops working for some |
| rating of 42.5 gallons (160 l), a | | | | reason, the conventional |
| maximum water temperature of 135°F | | | | electric-resistance element will still |
| (57°C), an efficiency of 240% | | | | keep the water warm, but homeowners will |
| (coefficient of performance of 2.4), and | | | | notice the problem and contact Skyland |
| an energy factor of 2.11. (Energy factor | | | | Falls. The company(from: will go out |
| is a standardized measure of performance | | | | and troubleshoot the problem-but it |
| of water heaters; the higher the number, | | | | probably won't be an emergency call, |
| the better.) All this is in a unit that | | | | since the water will remain at least |
| measures only 18" wide by 14" deep by | | | | warm. "Since this is a new system, we |
| 14" high (460 x 360 x 360 mm), weighs | | | | wanted a backup," Alexander told EBN. |
| only 48 pounds (22 kg), and sits on top | | | | With some units in place for four |
| of a standard water heater. The list | | | | months, Skyland Falls has yet to receive |
| price is $499. The energy factor and | | | | a call. |
| first-hour rating of the AirTap are | | | | Installation is fairly easy-even |
| certified by GAMA (previously the Gas | | | | feasible for skilled do-it-yourselfers. |
| Appliance Manufacturers Association and | | | | According to Alexander, one of his |
| now a broader association of appliance | | | | employees can install three AirTap units |
| and equipment manufacturers). | | | | in a day. Skyland Falls installs the |
| Heat-pump(from: water heaters have | | | | water heaters in utility closets with |
| always been a good idea, but most | | | | the outflow air from the AirTap heat |
| efforts to design, build, and market | | | | pump vented into the adjacent garage; |
| them have failed. With today's high | | | | this setup provides some cooling to the |
| energy prices, however, consumers should | | | | garage, which is beneficial in the |
| be more receptive to heat-pump water | | | | summer. Of the 30 units so far |
| heaters, according to Harvey Sachs, | | | | installed, only one unit has had a |
| Ph.D., the buildings program director at | | | | problem-a loose bolt that Skyland Falls |
| the American Council for an | | | | easily fixed. In late spring 2008, the |
| Energy-Efficient Economy. "The economic | | | | all-electric homes were using less than |
| savings potential is so much greater | | | | $2 per day for energy, according to |
| than before, with the run-up of energy | | | | Alexander, though how much of this is |
| prices," Sachs told EBN. | | | | for water heating is not known. |
| AirGenerate initially produced its | | | | Other heat-pump water heaters will be |
| AirTap A7 water-heater(from: kit in | | | | coming along soon. General Electric |
| Houston, Texas. After selling a few | | | | expects to introduce its Hybrid Electric |
| hundred units in late 2007, the company | | | | Water Heater in late 2009. The model |
| began sourcing the product from an | | | | will sell for about $400 more than a |
| offshore supplier. The outsourcing of | | | | standard, 50-gallon (190-l) electric |
| production will allow the company to | | | | water heater but save an average family |
| significantly ramp up production. The | | | | $250 per yearwith electricity(from: at |
| first of the new (offshore-manufactured) | | | | 10 cents per kWh, the company claims. |
| AirTap units were received in January | | | | According to Sachs, a second major |
| 2008, and about 200 had been sold | | | | player is likely to soon announce |
| through May 2008. Of 400 units scheduled | | | | another heat-pump water heater. Having |
| to arrive in June, almost all were | | | | major manufacturers enter the heat-pump |
| pre-sold by the end of May, according to | | | | water-heater market, according to Sachs, |
| Sunil Sinha, chief scientist at | | | | will give this sort of product |
| AirGenerate. | | | | legitimacy. "[AirTap] may be able to |
| Skyland Falls, a Tennessee developer, | | | | ride the wake instead of having to break |
| has installed 30 AirTap units since | | | | through the ocean waves," he said. |
| January 2008 in a 70-unit subdivision | | | | In addition to the AirTap A7 model, |
| currently under construction. Houses in | | | | AirGenerate is introducing a larger |
| the subdivision are 2,000 ft2 (190 m2) | | | | 12,000 Btu/hour model in August 2008, |
| each and sell for an average of | | | | according to Sinha. This model will |
| $230,000. "The AirTap is doing a | | | | offer the same energy factor of 2.11 but |
| fantastic job," according to Skyland | | | | will have a first-hour rating of 60 |
| Falls president Gary Alexander, who told | | | | gallons (230 l). |