Heat Pump Water Heater (HPWH)
A water heater that uses a heat pump to extract warmth from surrounding air rather than burning gas or using resistive electric elements. Uses 2-3x less energy than a standard electric water heater.
Why It Matters
HPWHs qualify for a $2,000 federal tax credit and $1,750 HEEHRA rebate. They also dehumidify and cool the space where they are installed — a bonus in garages and basements.
Related Tools
Related Terms
Heat Pump
An efficient HVAC system that transfers heat rather than generating it, providing both heating and cooling. Air-source heat pumps are most common; ground-source (geothermal) are most efficient.
COP (Coefficient of Performance)
The ratio of heating or cooling output to electrical energy input for a heat pump. A COP of 3.0 means the system produces 3 kWh of heat for every 1 kWh of electricity consumed.
UEF (Uniform Energy Factor)
The standard efficiency metric for water heaters. It measures overall energy efficiency including standby losses. Heat pump water heaters achieve UEF of 2.5-4.0 vs. 0.6-0.7 for gas tank units.