As gas and electricity prices increase, many of us are looking for ways to reduce our energy bills as well as making our homes more energy efficient.
One large factor to acknowledge in our home electricity usage is hot water. Data sourced from EECA New Zealand, states that hot water heating can account for up to 30% of household energy use.
Given that hot water heating consumes a large percentage of household energy, what can be done to dramatically reduce its running costs?
Introducing AquaCore
Smart Systems provide and install a unique domestic hot water heat pump that is highly economical and specifically tailored for New Zealand conditions.
This hot water heating solution is,
- 3.6 times more energy efficient than a standard electric hot water cylinder, and
- 4.39 times more energy efficient than gas hot water heating
Tried and tested, the Black Diamond AquaCore was first made available in New Zealand over 10 years ago and has been providing energy efficient domestic hot water ever since.
The AquaCore is designed to easily integrate with both existing and new electrical hot water cylinders, as well as existing instant gas water heating solutions – including tankless. This allows existing homeowners huge savings on running costs following these retrofit installations.
AquaCore also offers quick recovery times and can meet the same demands as gas hot water heating.
Faster Heat Up Times
Utilising hot water heat pump technology, the AquaCore extracts heat from the outdoor air. This is not only cheaper to run, but the AquaCore also properly uses stratification in the hot water cylinder to provide readily available hot water with much faster heating times. Stratification is crucial for energy efficiency with distinct layers of hot and cooler water. The hotter water sits on top of the cooler water. Cold water enters the bottom of the cylinder and rises as a layer, while up to 62°C hot water is drawn off from the top.
By maintaining stratification,
- Heat loss is reduced
- Heating cycles are optimised
- Heat recovery times are faster
- Energy efficiency increases when combined with renewable energy such as solar power
- The lifespan of the cylinder is extended with reduced temperature fluctuations and stress
- Cylinder maintenance costs are reduced
Case in point - Hot Water Cylinder temperatures after 2 hours:
If a full reheat is required, the AquaCore can reheat an entire 180L cylinder in just 2½ hours, whereas traditional electric cylinders will take up to 3¼ hours in winter conditions.
Retrofitting
As stated earlier, the Aquacore hot water heat pump can replace a gas califont (also known as a tankless hot water heating system). Some homes with instant gas water heating aren't designed with an internal space for a hot water cylinder, so outdoor installations are required.
The AquaCore’s Outdoor and Indoor unit can be externally installed with an outdoor heat pump cover alongside an externally rated cylinder.
Images by Black Diamond
And remember, the AquaCore’s quick recovery and fast heat up times make it the ultimate alternative to instant gas hot water.
Other benefits from AquaCore
- It reduces your hot water heating costs by up to 80% (based on ambient conditions, water inlet temperature, installation type, etc...)
- Guaranteed hot water in cold conditions.
- The system utilises environmentally conscious R32 refrigerant, which has a lower Global Warming Potential (GWP) compared to R410A commonly used in other systems, making it better for the environment.
- If your electricity retailer provides free power in certain hours, the AquaCore’s connectable Wi-Fi control and app allows you to take advantage of these free hours.
Summary
If you live in the Christchurch area and would like to move away from gas hot water heating or want to significantly reduce your electric hot water heating costs, reach out to Smart Systems. We’re only too happy to help reduce your home's energy consumption and save you money.
Click on Contact us to find out more.
