Heat pump water heaters (HPWH) are a more recent market entry with nearly triple the efficiency of electric resistance models. HPWHs function similarly to space heating heat pumps: instead of generating heat from electric resistance coils, heat is moved from ambient air to a hot water tank. The ambient air can come from either inside the building or from the outdoors. Once heat has been extracted from the air, cold air is discharged from the unit.
The Maryland Clean Buildings Hub (the Hub), an initiative of the Maryland Energy Administration, empowers Maryland’s building owners to make well-informed energy investments in their properties by connecting them to financial, educational, and technical assistance. Sign-up for the Hub newsletter here. Have questions? Contact
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Water heating is one of the more difficult areas to retrofit for buildings, but the challenges are not insurmountable:
- Considerations may include increased equipment space needs, additional venting requirements, and possible noise mitigation, and comfort issues for residents.
- It is critical to engage a mechanical design team early in the process to assess the feasibility of the retrofit.
Building owners and operators can tap into a range of incentives to help defray the costs of heat pump water heaters. The
Maryland Clean Buildings Hub (the Hub) is committed to help building owners or operators understand the range of incentives that they may be eligible to receive.
State Programs:
Local Programs:
Explore local programs that are available to help support the implementation of building decarbonization upgrades at commercial buildings.
Utility Programs:
EmPOWER Maryland: Ratepayers located in the following service territories can access energy efficiency-related incentives through their utility:
The Hub invites you to explore the materials below to help guide your next steps. Use these resources to help move your building decarbonization project forward with greater confidence. 