Electrification of Domestic Hot Water in Multifamily Buildings
Methods for electrification of DHW in multifamily buildings all pose challenges. This session will provide an overview of existing technologies and a brief history of how we arrived at central air-source heat pump technology as the least problematic solution today. We will use recent design-phase case studies to illustrate cost, estimated energy use, mechanical space requirements, system and equipment peculiarities, metering strategies, maintenance requirements, what we’d like to learn from systems as they’re installed, and why the alternatives for electrification of DHW are even worse! Providing electric DHW is a significant challenge. Are we up to the task?
Session Speaker(s):
Session Chair(s):
Event Time:
Room / Location:
Harbor 3
CEU Information:
Approved for 1 credit hour toward AIA (LU), BOC, GBCI (BD+C), and NARI certification. Credit is offered for each full conference day toward MA CSL, PHI, Phius, and RESNET certification.
Learning Objectives:
- Classify the options for electric DHW heating systems in large multifamily buildings
- Evaluate the current opportunities and obstacles to installing central ASHP DHW plants in existing and new construction multifamily projects
- Identify space planning considerations for designing central ASHP DHW plants and for incorporating provisions for future conversion
- Assess a multifamily project's feasibility in achieving net-zero carbon emissions by using a central ASHP system as the source for DHW
