Heat pump water heaters for retrofits with space and electrical constraints

Domestic water heating is a crucial component of residential electrification, especially with the growing suite of heat pump water heaters (HPWHs), which heat water more efficiently than standard water heaters.

Unitary 240V HPWHs are a good fit for many home types in Minnesota. However, in space– and electrically-constrained residences such as multifamily apartments and manufactured homes, there are hurdles to installing these water heaters.

This study, conducted in partnership with CEE and NBI, will chart a practical path to electrifying domestic water heating in multifamily and manufactured homes by identifying the installation barriers, opportunities, and performance of HPWHs designed for constrained conditions, such as split-system HPWHs. In a potential Phase 2 of this research, field research will help Minnesota cost-effective path to move more Minnesotans away from a significant source of carbon emissions.

This research builds on a prior study on 120-volt HPWHs conducted by Slipstream and co-funded by Xcel Energy, Focus on Energy, ComEd, and Consumers Energy.

This research was made possible by a grant from the Minnesota Department of Commerce, Division of Energy Resources through the Conservation Applied Research and Development (CARD) program, which is funded by Minnesota ratepayers.