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

Written by

05 July 2023

•

4 min read

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.

Cold water from the cylinder is pumped through the compressor (pictured) and heated to 63°c.

Increasing the efficiency of your hot water cylinder

Baker says the specification of Reclaim CO2 hot water heat pumps has risen dramatically as the industry puts more focus on energy efficiency, cost control, and householder comfort.

“These high-performance heat pumps deliver up to five times more output for the same energy use compared to a standard electric cylinder or gas water heater — all while not compromising on the amount of hot water available. With one of the best COP ratings and the lowest global warming potential possible, you can save money and the planet.”

As mentioned above, the system’s efficiency increases when paired with Solar PV. Because the reclaim only needs one kilowatt of electricity, a modern install with three solar panels can supply a household with hot water all through summer.

“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.”

Financial benefits of hot water heat pump systems

For those looking to save financially, the efficiency of the Reclaim means it has minimal impact on your power bill.

“If you're purchasing all of your power for water heating, we will reduce it by at least 75%. And, if you're already getting your electricity free from your solar panel, then there's no reason that you couldn't have completely free hot water, too.

“If it's raining, and the solar is not generating, you're still going to want to have hot water, and you're still going to have the heat pump running at some point during the day. You will have to buy that power, but you'll be buying 75% less power than you would if you're just using a standard electric cylinder,” Baker explains.

The cylinder (pictured) is heated from the top down with water from the compressor, so you always have hot water ready to go.

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.