Domestic hot water can amount to as much as 30% or more of the energy consumption in a home. We have lived with lagging temperature when we turn on the hot water tap for decades but new demand (tankless) hot water solutions offer a different but lagging service. All summer long we produce hot water and yet if we change to a heat pump for the hot water, we can throw “free” cold air back into the home. Electric vs. gas vs. heat pump will be examined. Tankless systems will be explained along with newer technologies such as air over water heat pump. Is there a future for Solar Thermal systems or is it just too costly/complicated? Even the very future of hot water tanks will be explored. The cost of housing presents huge challenges to mechanical rooms in basements and on living floors, and changes in the building form and even aging-in-place might make attics the last logical choice for all major mechanical and storing water overhead is not always a good idea.

***This online course is available On Demand. There are no tests required***