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Heat pump water heaters
An alternative to a solar water heater is a heat pump water heater. Just as heat pumps can be used to heat your house, they can also be used to heat your water. The ones that heat your house are called air-to-air heat pumps. The ones that heat water are called air-to-water heat pumps.
Heat pump water heaters are a new technology compared to solar water heaters and so far there are not too many systems in New Zealand. However, the technology is now proven and reputable suppliers are present in New Zealand. So homeowners should certainly consider the merits of heat pump water heaters when deciding how to most economically heat their water while also helping the environment.
Tests have shown that a heat pump water heater will save you at least as much on your water heating bills as a solar water heater and prevent about the same amount of CO2 emissions. In many cases they can be cheaper to purchase and install. Some heat pump water heaters can be retrofitted to your existing electric hot water cylinder.
An even newer technology soon coming into New Zealand is a solar assisted heat pump water heater. In this case, the outdoor unit – the part which takes the heat out of the air – is combined with a solar collector. The heat pump is thus able to take heat out of air that has been pre-heated by the sun, which boosts its performance even more.
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