Energy Efficiency in the Forefront at VISION House Las Vegas

Transitioning to an electric heat pump water heater pushes the needle forward for high performance living.

“Homeowners and buyers tend to focus first on fancy appliances such as a refrigerator or oven with the latest technology. The water heater may be tucked away in a closet or a garage and get a little less attention, but it’s the second biggest energy consumer in a modern home next to heating and air conditioning,” says Scott Cohen, director of marketing for the water heater division at Rheem. “Upgrading to a heat pump water heater can make a big difference in the overall energy efficiency of a home.”

“Rheem’s ProTerra Hybrid Electric Heat Pump Water Heater, which combines the technology of a heat pump on top of a standard electric water heater, is the most energy efficient water heater you can put in your home today,” Cohen says. “A homeowner can reduce the energy consumption of their water heater by about 75% with a hybrid electric heat pump water heater while having a smaller carbon footprint.”

That statistic makes Rheem’s product a natural fit to showcase at the VISION House Las Vegas, a partnership between Beazer Homes and Green Builder Media that includes two model homes at the master planned community of Cadence in Henderson just outside of Las Vegas. 

In addition, the VISION House Las Vegas project includes a deconstructed model for a behind-the-walls detailed look at how all the products and systems in the houses work together for healthier, more sustainable living. These homes and all future Beazer homes will meet the Department of Energy’s Zero Energy Ready Home requirements.

“We’re happy to work with a builder like Beazer to be able to incorporate the energy savings of this unit into their homes,” Cohen says. “We installed the ProTerra in all three models, each with a capacity of 65 gallons, which is enough to handle an active family with proven technology.”

Cost Benefit Analysis for Builders and Buyers

“A heat pump water heater costs a little more than a standard water heater, but the long-term cost savings outweigh the investment,” Cohen says. “For retrofits, there may be a little additional upfront cost for homeowners. The unit is a little more expensive, and there may be some minor modifications, such as the condensate drain for a retrofit,” Cohen says. “In some applications, you might need to do a little ducting if you don't have enough air in the room. At the VISION House Las Vegas, we have plenty of air because we installed the water heater in the garage.”

“To offset the extra costs, there are federal tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act for homeowners and tax incentives for builders,” Cohen points out. “Local utilities sometimes offer incentives to convert to a heat pump water heater, and in some areas, there are statewide programs.”

“When these programs and incentives are combined, they can make the cost of the heat pump water heater roughly on par with the cost of a traditional electric water heater,” he says. “And that's before you even get into the energy savings. You're going to be spending 75% less on electricity for your water heating, which will rack up month after month for the homeowner.”

The unit in the VISION House Las Vegas costs about $170 to operate annually.

“If you're in a high electricity state, your savings will rack up even faster,” Cohen says. “If you're in a low electricity state, the monthly savings aren't quite as much. But you still have all those incentives to offset the initial cost.”

Durability and Operational Benefits

The ProTerra water heater has a ten-year warranty, but it can last even longer.  The product is available in 40-, 50-, 65- and 80-gallon models. 

“For some people, we recommend going a size larger than you might go normally because that will give you a little more storage capacity and allow you to run the water heater and heat pump-only mode as much as possible, which will get you your maximum energy savings,” Cohen says.

The ProTerra also has other operating modes. “For example, if you have guests in the house and there's a really high demand for hot water, you can put it on high demand mode that will use the electric elements as backup,” Cohen says. “That way you don't end up running out of hot water, and it gives you more control to balance the performance requirements and your desired energy savings.”

Installation Simplified for New Builds and Retrofits

Rheem has been manufacturing heat pump water heaters since about 2009. The ProTerra is their fifth-generation model.

“We made some changes to this product that allows it to be piped from the top,” Cohen says. “We also have side connections available in a new build. You have the flexibility of using the top or the sides in a retrofit application. Most likely, you're going to be replacing a water heater that already has top connections, so this makes that retrofit a lot easier.”

At the VISION House, the heat pump water heater is in the garage, where it will expel cool dry air (change to air) to provide relief from the desert heat in the summer.

“In a retrofit, you don’t have to worry about venting, carbon monoxide or fumes or any of the downside that older technologies have,” Cohen says. 

Rheem’s heat pump water heaters work for multifamily developments, too. 

“We have commercial versions of our heat pump water heater, including single units like the one in the VISION House but with the heat pump and the tank as an integrated unit,” Cohen says. “We also have a whole line of commercial split systems which use a condenser with storage tanks for a commercial application where you need large volumes of water but still want the energy efficiency.”

Sustainability Commitment

In 2019, Rheem’s CEO Chris Peel announced a three-part sustainability commitment, Cohen says.

“First, we’re committed to introduce a whole new line of air and water products that reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50%,” he says. “Second, we’re going to reduce our own manufacturing greenhouse gas emissions by 50% and convert our plants to zero waste to landfill. Third, we plan to train over 250,000 plumbers, HVAC contractors, builders and other people who have a seat at the table in the industry on sustainable products and sustainable practices.”