Hot Water Heat Pumps
Lower your energy bills with heat pump hot water!
with Tim Johnstone, CEO Powrhouse and Harry Barber, Electrify Yarra
Online 6th May, 7.30 – 9.00pm.
Households with hot water heat pumps save money!
- Heat pump hot water is more efficient, using at least 75% less energy than older electric resistance hot water or instant gas systems
- Heat pump hot water costs half as much to run compared to using gas, or very little at all with the addition of solar PV
Many households will qualify for generous rebates, and right now gas prices are getting rapidly more expensive.
However every household is different, and it’s hard to know where to start.
Find out more about model, size and installation factors from our experts!
RSVP here
In this info-packed, plain-language webinar, you can get all the practical information you need to decide if a heat pump is right for you, and how to make it happen.
Interested in a heat pump hot water system, but don’t know where to start?
Significant Savings
Heat pumps are very efficient, use less energy and lower water heating bills
Heat pump hot water is very efficient – 3,300kWh for a family of four for a year (equivalent to 11,900MJ) compared to 30,000MJ of gas – Grattan Institute, p. 9.
- Rewiring Australia (p. 13) “On the existing electricity grid, the cost of water heating is roughly halved when using a heat pump compared to a natural gas water heater.”
- When paired with solar, hot water heat pumps can offer very significant savings (“Heat pumps can cut your energy costs by up to 90%. It’s not magic, just physics”, Alan Pears).
- It is important to set your timer for maximum savings, for instance charging during the free period with a time of use of tariff with a free window, or around midday with solar PV.
System choice for your household
Size and type of hot water heat pumps will vary for each individual situation
Prices vary wildly, with some good quality units costing over $5000 (Reclaim and Sanden). Powrhouse have had good success with Aquatech units with a much lower price, climate friendly refrigerant and good reviews. Solar hot water units with a collector system that use the sun to heat the water directly often need a gas booster and take up significant roof space.
- Electrify Yarra: “Whether you choose a split or all-in-one tank may depend on what room you have. The split system will have a separate larger compressor which heats more quickly but takes up more space”.
- Sustainability Victoria: In a integrated system, the fan is mounted on top of the storage cylinder, in a split system the fan is separate from the storage cylinder.
- Size: A rough guide is 100L/bedroom (Electrify Yarra factsheet).
Generous rebates
Many households will qualify for government rebates
Solar Victoria: “Hot water rebates of up to $1,000 are available for eligible heat pump and solar hot water products.”
- Victorian households are eligible for a hot water rebate if you are the owner-occupier of a house worth less than $3 million, your combined income is less than $210,000, and the existing system is at least three years old.
- All units subsidised by the Victorian government must have a 5 year warranty.
Installation process
It’s good to do your research early, before your hot water system fails
Once your have found out your eligibility for a hot water rebate, Solar Victoria outlines a step-by-step installation process:
- Do some research – read Solar Victoria’s Hot Water Buyers Guide, talk with an authorised retailer, and select an approved product.
- Ask for a written quote (uploaded into the Solar Victoria portal), wait for pre-approval, submit eligibility material, and receive QR code.
- Installation must be within 120 days – you pay the difference to the retailer.
More about our speakers
Tim Johnston
CEO, Powrhouse, heat pump hot water specialists
Tim Johnston is the founder of Powrhouse, with 642 heat pump installations under their belt.
More about Tim Johnston
Tim Johnston is the founder of Powrhouse, a company dedicated to helping people choose and install the right heat pump hot water system for their home. Tim cares about doing things properly, with a real focus on quality workmanship and clear, honest advice. Tim’s goal is to make switching to efficient hot water affordable and stress-free for every customer.
Harry Barber
Electrify Yarra, Urban Transit Solutions P/L
Harry Barber works is an engineering consultant and writer on sustainability
More about Harry Barber
Harry Barber consults on traffic engineering and is involved in work on urban planning, electrification and low carbon transport. He has written for the Cities Power Partnership on the transition away from polluting small electric motors such towards electric tools, and provides expert comment on subjects ranging from trip-wires for toll dodging trucks, urban congestion and transitioning council operations to electric power. He is noted as a practical and effective innovator focusing on sustainable infrastructure.
Further Information
Solar Victoria
- Comprehensive information page on hot water rebates including eligibility and process
- Authorised retailers
- Eligible products
Electrify Yarra
- Detailed information page on hot water including system types, efficiency, savings and heat pump FAQ
Electrify Boroondara
- Comprehensive Hot water heat pump knowledge hub with further pages on how heat pumps work, system choice and product comparisons
- Hot water systems information page on high and mid systems with a clear summary for each product
Powrhouse on hot water heat pumps
- Information page with a detailed cost and savings breakdown including rebates
- Decision making guide for choosing a hot water heat pump including information on reliability, refrigerants and maintenance with more details on Aquatech (reliable and middle price)
Lighter Footprints information
Going electric and energy efficiency
- Information on how to set your hot water heat pump timer for more savings
- Fast paced home battery highlights video
- Interested in home batteries? Read more on size, features and tariffs here.
- Entertaining short video on electrification with home energy expert Tim Forcey
- Insulation and draught proofing – informative video highlights
- Health benefits of getting off gas – Dr Genevieve Cowie video highlights
Using gas at home harms our health
Household gas increases indoor pollutants
- Household gas harms our health, including our respiratory and neurological systems.
- A University of Queensland study found that gas cooking causes 12% of childhood asthma.
- Asthma Australia is informing parents about the risks of gas cooking.
- Kids living in households with gas cooktops have a comparable risk of asthma to a child living with household cigarette smoke.
Disclaimer
Please note that whilst Lighter Footprints has endeavoured to ensure all information is correct, individual circumstances will vary and it is important that you undertake your own research to best cater for your preferences and situation.
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