Two Manufacturers with New HPWH Updates, Central HPWH Market Report
Plus upcoming webinars
New HPWH Updates from Two Major Manufacturers
Since coming to the U.S. market 16 years ago, heat pump water heaters (HPWHs) have undergone significant product evolutions and improvements. They have doubled their efficiency and are quieter and easier to install. Many have picked up important features like being smart, connected, and having thermostatic mixing valves that help store water hotter.
Two of the major HPWH manufacturers, Rheem and Bradford White, have recently updated their heat pump water heaters. We thought it was a good time to take a look at these new updates and see how they’re moving the market forward. Check out our article in CleanTechnica.
New Report Alert – Central Heat Pump Water Heater Market Research (2023-2025): System Types, Market Size, and Key Regions.
Heat pump water heaters come in all shapes and sizes, from 50-gallon units in single-family homes to 1000-gallon behemoth split systems serving hundreds of apartment units. AWHI’s newly published report focuses on the latter: central heat pump water heaters or “CHPWHs”. This subsector of the HPWH industry is generating lots of buzz lately, and for good reason. Recent innovations abound, from impressive cold climate performance to deployment of phase change materials (substances that can absorb and release large amounts of heat when they change phases) for extra thermal storage.
This report provides an overview of CHPWH configurations and statistics on a dozen different central heat pumps, including several newly released products. Listed metrics include water heating capacity in kBtu/h, ambient design temperature, and refrigerant GWP, among others.
The report also assesses the existing U.S. building stock to gauge the potential market for CHPWHs in multifamily buildings. Building size trends pertinent to the CHPWH market were analyzed, such as the increased number of large apartment buildings. Between 1980 and 1989, 2–4-unit buildings accounted for nearly 30% of apartment completions. Fast forward to the 2010s and that market share fell to a mere 14% of new completions. This trend points to a growing need for larger central water heating systems.
Regional market conditions for CHPWH adoption were assessed, including economic favorability. The report highlights how the “Spark Spread,” (the relative price of electricity versus natural gas) is a key indicator for CHPWH cost savings potential. When the spark spread is lower than a CHPWH’s efficiency (often 300-400% better than gas!), a CHPWH is more likely to reduce a building’s energy bills.
In addition to this market research, AWHI is leading an exciting national field study on CHPWHs and will collect performance data from American-made CHPWHs in six multifamily buildings spread throughout the U.S. Study results will be available in late 2026.
For more information on our research or national field study, please contact Noah Gabriel, Project Manager at NBI at noah@newbuildings.org
Upcoming Webinars
Decarbonizing Commercial Kitchens: Electric Appliances for Maximum Energy Efficiency - May 28, 10:00 am PST.
Reserve your spot for this live webinar from the cutting-edge Food Service Technology Center. This interactive event will explore all-electric kitchen equipment, strategies, chef-driven insights, and real-world case studies. Focus will be on the full-service and small-institutional kitchen. Join us and learn how thoughtful planning can make electric kitchens both energy-efficient and labor-effective.
Solar Energy in Schools - June 11, 10:00 am PST.
A growing number of schools are installing rooftop solar photovoltaics (PV) to clean up their energy supply and save on energy costs. This informative webinar will cover best practices and lessons learned from the field of solar PV ownership. Nationally recognized technical assistance providers and building owners who have successfully implemented solar will share information about maximizing and documenting energy offset and cost savings, developing and implementing a robust operations and maintenance plan or contract, and how best to manage service providers. Our panelists will share what they have learned as successful solar PV owners and answer questions. Whether you are in the planning stages of your first onsite solar array or have multiple systems already operating, this session is sure to provide valuable insight that will bring value to your facility’s operations.
Hydronic Heating Manufacturers Roundtable - June 25 - 10:00 am PST.
Save your spot at this special online roundtable event. Heat pump manufacturers will discuss air-to-water heat pumps which can provide hydronic space heating in addition to domestic water heating, water cooling, and thermal storage integration. Hydronics is a promising energy efficiency and electrification technology that’s gaining traction in the U.S., with new products being released domestically to address new construction and retrofits in homes with existing fossil fuel or electric boilers. Panelists will share about their available products with a focus on residential systems, talk about opportunities and the state of the market, then answer questions from the moderator and audience.
Take part in our Small Commercial HPWH Study
NBI is now offering $500 per new site accepted for participation in the Small Commercial Heat Pump Water Heater Pilot. Do you know of any restaurants, hotels, grocery stores, or other small commercial buildings with HPWHs? Or do you plan to install a CHPWH in the future? Please write to the study lead at noah@newbuildings.org.
