Heat Pump Water Heater Savings Validation Evaluation

Pacific Northwest

Building confidence in heat pump water heater performance through field-tested validation and regional energy savings modeling

As part of the Northwest’s largest and most rigorous HPWH evaluation, Ecotope conducted a comprehensive, multi-year study to validate energy savings estimates for integrated heat pump water heaters. This was the first project fully executed under the Regional Technical Forum’s (RTF) newly established savings evaluation framework. Ecotope developed a validation research plan, oversaw metering at 50 new sites, and integrated prior field studies (totaling 70 additional sites) to build a centralized dataset. The project aligned with RTF guidelines from inception to final reporting and informed the transition of the provisional Unit Energy Savings (UES) measure to active status.

Ecotope’s scope included field metering, integration of historical data, and validation of the SEEM energy simulation model to reflect real-world HPWH behavior. The project required harmonizing disparate data sources and engineering methods to create a unified model. This model quantified HPWH performance and established reliable savings estimates critical for program development and policy advancement. The field study and validation work laid the foundation for widespread adoption of HPWH technology by confirming its value through measured performance, ultimately supporting energy-efficient water heating strategies across the region.