Some more good coverage of the upcoming GE "hybrid" water heater on Worldchanging
The "hybrid" aspect is that the water heater takes advantage of the heat pump and ambient temperature to keep the water coming into the storage tank warmer...seems like a "duh" moment for the industry, but many good ideas are. From WC:
"Start with a glass of lukewarm water, and a heat pump can turn it into a half glass of warm water, and a half glass of cold water, in a process that takes less energy than warming up a half cup of water on a stove top. If done right, heating your home with a heat pump -- particularly one that draws heat from water that's circulated underground -- can be more climate-friendly than even the most efficient gas furnace. So this new heater is really just an application of a tried-and-true technology, but in a slightly new way."
And who thought water heaters couldn't be sexy and exciting....
