A new hybrid heat pump GE water heater is designed to save 50 percent in energy costs versus a conventional DHW heater while supplying the same amount of hot water. Developed in response to a new ENERGY STAR standard for heat pump water heaters, the unit is distributed in Canada by Gordon R. Williams. The new GE Hybrid Electric Heat Pump Water Heater uses approximately 2300 kWh per year in a family home, versus 4800 for a standard electric storage tank type heater. It does this by combining energy-saving heating technology with traditional electric heating systems used in most standard water heaters on the market today, reports the manufacturer. This hybrid technology is designed to absorb heat in ambient air and transfer it into the water. Since it requires much less energy to absorb and transfer heat than it does to generate it – as a standard electric tank water heater would – the hybrid heater provides the same amount of hot water while using less energy. As well, a user-friendly electronic control system offers both simplicity and flexibility, giving consumers as much or as little control of operating modes as they like. They can set the thermostat and forget it or easily change the desired water temperature to maximize energy savings and/or comfort.
