The energy-efficient heat pump hot water system saving the planet and your wallet

Written by

05 July 2023

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4 min read

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Water heating is often the biggest consumer of energy in the home, so it’s no surprise that switching to an efficient water heating system can do wonders for both your power bill and the environment.

In New Zealand, water heating accounts for around 30-45% of household energy consumption, and is often the single biggest energy user in the home. For those looking to reduce their energy use, switching to an energy-efficient hot water system can provide significant savings. 

Specialising in sustainable hot water and heating systems, Apricus Eco offers a range of products — from wood pellet boilers to evacuated tube solar hot water systems — designed to meet domestic heating demands while touching the environment gently. Of these, the Reclaim Energy CO2 hot water heat pump stands out. Not only does it achieve a Coefficient of Performance (COP) of five in all climate zones, it can be paired with solar to achieve maximum efficiency.

How do CO2 hot water heat pumps work?

The Reclaim Energy hot water heat pump uses a natural refrigerant to absorb heat energy from the air, compress it, and transfer the heat to water in the cylinder. Cold water from the cylinder is pumped through the Reclaim compressor, heated to 63 degrees, and then returned to the cylinder where it filters from the top down. This means the cylinder always has hot water ready for use.  

“We use carbon dioxide as our refrigerant, which is a really wonderful natural gas. One of the reasons that it's so incredibly efficient is because, due to its molecular properties, it can absorb and retain an enormous amount of heat. That heat is then transferred through the heat pump into the hot water cylinder,” Marcus Baker of Apricus Eco explains.

“The Reclaim Energy CO2 hot water heat pump’s smart controller allows you to customise the operating times to optimise your PV energy production,” Baker says. 

“It has a preset option for PV systems to run the heat pump during the time of day that the PV system is producing power. This optimises use of your PV system, by saving energy generated for free as hot water in your hot water cylinder, instead of feeding energy back into the grid.”

Reclaim Energy systems can be installed in new builds, retrofitted in existing homes and used for small to medium commercial applications. There is up to 50% funding available for installations on commercial buildings. The systems are suitable for both indoor and outdoor applications.

Learn more about Apricus and the Reclaim Energy CO2 Hot Water Heat Pump.

At ArchiPro we recognise and acknowledge the existing, original and ancient connection Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have to the lands and waterways across the Australian continent. We pay our respects to the elders past and present. We commit to working together to build a prosperous and inclusive Australia.