So, you're trying to decide how to heat the domestic hot water in the zero energy house you are designing for Denver.
Solar hot water heaters are an excellent choice. However, the logistics of a solar thermal installation are daunting compared to a typical appliance installation.
A logistically easier solution is to use a heat pump water heater (HPWH) in conjunction with PV solar.
Rheem has just released a new
nice-looking unit.
The jury is still out as to which configuration will be best.
Recent test results and common sense are beginning to favor HPWH with PV. The reasons for this are that solar DHW is insufficient and inefficient in the winter, and underutilized in the summer. A grid-tied PV system has the advantage of constant efficiency and 100% utilization year round. In addition, large PV cost reductions are coming, but none are expected in solar thermal. State-of-the-art solar thermal collectors still use supply-restricted copper, aluminum, and glass. The labor content of solar thermal installations is also quite high.
Some puzzles remain with the implementation of HPWH systems. Per the manufacturer's recommendations: "Because the heat pump’s exhaust air is cooler than the surrounding atmosphere, these water heaters generally do not belong in or near busy living areas of the home." Since they pull the heat out of the surrounding air, a small, airtight mechanical room isn't the best place for it either.
Discussion of HPWH locations:
1. The garage. A new, well insulated garage might work. An uninsulated garage slab gives off enough low temperature free geothermal heat* to prevent freezing of the pipes to the heater. There are at least two problems with the garage, however: 1. In summer, the HPWH gives off cold air that would be more desirable inside the living space than in the garage. Ducting air from the garage to the house is a CO hazard, and not recommended. 2. If the (insulated) garage door is inadvertently left open in the winter for an extended period, the water lines to the HPWH are at risk of freezing.
2. Mechanical room with forced ventilation. The control scheme and ducting layout for this ventilation can get complicated and costly.
3. Basement. This is where you usually find the water heater in new construction, and will work just fine if you don't mind a cold basement in the winter. If you finish the basement and add heat to it, that heating system will be feeding the HPWH the heat it needs, and this will spoil the overall efficiency of your system.
"The House as a System" philosophy of home design will get a real workout on this one. Please enter a comment if you've heard of any other solutions.
*A perimeter insulated slab in an insulated garage gives off 5-15 Btu/hr/ft2, based on
preliminary research. This is a great match for a 7000 btuh HPWH.
