It was almost 40 years ago when the Energy Department took it upon itself to dive headfirst into the research and development of water heating solutions for residential consumers that could be energy-efficient in a world that uses too much energy. This ended up leading to the invention of electric heat pump water heaters which nowadays use around 62 percent less energy than the ordinary electric water heater. And in the span of a few years, sales of heat pump water heaters rose exponentially, leading to less energy being used and lower heating prices for everyday homeowners.
This was just the beginning, however, and still today brilliant people with an eye toward the future are developing new technologies that will serve to improve the water heater and lead to a more energy efficient world. Following are five such innovations that we can look forward to:
- The Fosman
A machinist out of Maine has created a device that strives to push out heat in an environmentally friendly way. It’s efficient because the hotter it gets, the less energy it uses. He calls it the Fosman – a suction operated valve lapping device. Basically, it develops its heat from friction so it doesn’t need an energy-consuming heating element within. All it uses is synthetic oil which spins inside a small space between two iron cylinders and heats up which in turn heats up the metal. Thus, the hotter it gets, the less electricity it consumes.
- Thermoelectricity
In Texas, they are developing a solid-state heat pump innovation which relies on thin, film thermoelectric modules to heat water with very little consumption of electric energy. The costs are also astoundingly low despite the complexity.
- Water CompressionImage may be NSFW.
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A company called Xergy has taken a different approach toward water heating, using an electrochemical compressor that employs water not as a refrigerant but as a working fluid, which results in zero production of carbon gasses. This innovation leverages the special thermodynamic characteristics of hydrogen, producing it from electricity with the creation of a refrigeration cycle by the electrochemical compressor.
- Solar Water Heating
The sun is the largest source of energy in our galaxy. Thus, the inspiration is obvious in using the power of the sun as a source of renewable solar energy. Solar water heaters use flat panel “collectors” which absorb the solar energy and tubes containing liquids that transfer heat to circulate throughout a storage tank full of water. This water can then be used for cooking, washing machines, baths, and dishwashers.
- Cold Water
Most homes use much more cold water than hot water, but that cold water is still warmer than is necessary for these daily tasks. Thus came the brilliant idea from one Californian inventor who thought to use that excess heat from the cold water to heat a home’s hot water. In his tests, he found he could improve the efficiency of water heating 50 percent more than the average water heater.
Conclusion
These are simply the next steps of this new frontier of energy efficient heating solutions, a trail that began decades ago and has already helped our environment and assisted homeowners in keeping money in their pockets. With this foundation laid, we have a bright future on the horizon, right within our grasp.
The post 2015 and Beyond: 5 Exciting New Water Heater Innovations Coming Soon appeared first on Capital Care Plumbing.