18 May 2017

P.1.7.6 Heat Pump Water Heaters in the Canadian Residential Market

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This paper presents a techno-economic analysis of heat pump water heaters (HPWH) in new-construction Canadian housing, identifying challenges and potential solutions to efficiently meet domestic hot water heating loads. The analysis is conducted in six Canadian regions (Maritime, Quebec, Ontario, Prairies, Pacific and sub-Arctic) encompassing different climates, utility rates and structures, and typical space heating equipment. Housing energy models developed in the TRNSYS simulation tool are used to perform an analysis comparing annual energy use, utility costs and greenhouse gas emissions to typical base case systems. Parametric studies are conducted to evaluate the impact of evaporator location, and hot water draw profiles on the overall energy saving potential. Overall, HPWHs in the Canadian residential sector demonstrates some potential, resulting in annual energy savings in all regions assessed. From an economic perspective however, these systems are challenged by the current low utility rates.