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