Joe Wachunas, Author at CleanTechnica

Electric Water Heater Sales Set New Record In 2024 While Gas Sales Decline

Joe Wachunas — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 02:10:34 +0000

Fresh 2024 data from AHRI shows that gas storage water heater sales declined again in 2024 to their second lowest level since 2012. Sales of tanked water heaters that burn gas were down by 115,000 units, or 3%, in 2024. Meanwhile, sales of electric water heaters increased by 3% or ... [continued]

The post Electric Water Heater Sales Set New Record In 2024 While Gas Sales Decline appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Heat Pump Water Heaters Save 1 Ton of CO2 Annually — Making Them the Perfect Earth Day Technology

Joe Wachunas — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 00:56:28 +0000

If we were to make a clean tech Mt. Rushmore this Earth Day in honor of the technologies that make our lives better while reducing our impact, we might carve core technologies like solar panels, electric vehicles (EVs), LED light bulbs, and heat pumps for space heating and cooling into ... [continued]

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What Do a National Lab, a Home Builder, and an Elephant Have in Common?

Joe Wachunas — Fri, 24 Jan 2025 04:52:59 +0000

Answer: They’re all advancing heat pump water heaters! Late last year I went on an epic Heat Pump Water Heater Tour across America — where I visited a bunch of amazing individuals and organizations making heat pump water heaters the de facto hot shower provider of the 21st century. I ... [continued]

The post What Do a National Lab, a Home Builder, and an Elephant Have in Common? appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Air Quality Becomes Major Lever to Phase Out Fossil Fuels

Joe Wachunas — Thu, 14 Nov 2024 18:18:54 +0000

Bummed about what last week’s elections mean for the climate? The good news is that lots of movement will continue to happen at the state and local levels. One big trend is that air quality agencies across the US are quietly becoming major, if unintentional, players in the race to ... [continued]

The post Air Quality Becomes Major Lever to Phase Out Fossil Fuels appeared first on CleanTechnica.

What Did Your Heat Pump Water Heater Installation Cost? We Want to Know

Joe Wachunas — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 18:21:03 +0000

Heat pump water heaters (HPWH) are a game changing decarbonization technology that are unfortunately still too expensive in many regions. Our nonprofit-led Advanced Water Heating Initiative is looking to track prices that households are paying for HPWH installations to see what folks are spending by region and also to observe ... [continued]

The post What Did Your Heat Pump Water Heater Installation Cost? We Want to Know appeared first on CleanTechnica.

The Best Day of the Year — Heat Pump Water Heater Day — Is October 23

Joe Wachunas — Sat, 19 Oct 2024 21:01:44 +0000

The holiday that puts all other holidays to shame is almost upon us! Heat Pump Water Heater Day is rolling out for its third annual awesomeness to elevate and celebrate the most amazing appliance in the home that we never think about (the water heater). The Advanced Water Heating Initiative is ... [continued]

The post The Best Day of the Year — Heat Pump Water Heater Day — Is October 23 appeared first on CleanTechnica.

One Midwest Contractor Surfing The Wave Of Heat Pumps To A Thriving Business

Joe Wachunas — Fri, 18 Oct 2024 15:10:54 +0000

For my next stop on my heat pump water heater tour across America, I visited a large water heater installer and servicer who has created a thriving business model around heat pump water heaters — US Water Heating Solutions. This company is based in Arlington Heights, Illinois, but provides service ... [continued]

The post One Midwest Contractor Surfing The Wave Of Heat Pumps To A Thriving Business appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Heat Pumps + Renewable Energy — The Perfect Pairing for a Better Future

Joe Wachunas — Sun, 13 Oct 2024 13:50:52 +0000

Peanut butter and jelly, macaroni and cheese and now heat pumps and renewable energy. These two technologies pair perfectly together and are critical to decarbonizing our country. On my heat pump water heater tour across America I couldn’t help but notice and be inspired by how together they are transforming ... [continued]

The post Heat Pumps + Renewable Energy — The Perfect Pairing for a Better Future appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Intellihot’s Electron Is A Tankless Heat Pump Water Heater For Commercial Buildings

Joe Wachunas — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 17:16:31 +0000

The third stop of my heat pump water heater tour across America in advance of Heat Pump Water Heater Day was in Vernon Hills, Illinois, to check out the world headquarters of Intellihot, a company that is making an interesting type of commercial heat pump water heater that needs much ... [continued]

The post Intellihot’s Electron Is A Tankless Heat Pump Water Heater For Commercial Buildings appeared first on CleanTechnica.

This Central Heat Pump Water Heater In Chicago Was One Of The First To Be Installed In A Cold Climate

Joe Wachunas — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 15:00:46 +0000

The second stop of my heat pump water heater tour across America was in Chicago to check out one of the first installations of a central heat pump water heater (a heat pump water heater that provides hot water for many apartments in a multifamily building) at an affordable housing ... [continued]

The post This Central Heat Pump Water Heater In Chicago Was One Of The First To Be Installed In A Cold Climate appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Soaring Sales for Heat Pump Water Heaters in 2023. Let the Party Begin!

Joe Wachunas — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 14:17:26 +0000

Heat pump water heater sales saw their largest increase ever in 2023, according to the latest data released by ENERGY STAR. Shipments of heat pump water heaters (HPWHs) grew 35% last year to 190,000 units, their largest numerical increase (50,000 units) in history. This trend of accelerating shipment growth is ... [continued]

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Touring Bradford White’s Heat Pump Water Heater Factory Was a Dream Come True For This Efficiency Nerd

Joe Wachunas — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 17:16:03 +0000

The first stop of my heat pump water heater tour across America was an incredible experience that allowed me to see every step of how my favorite technology is made. A lot of magic happens at the Bradford White factory, from metal sheets arriving on pallets to packaged cardboard boxes ... [continued]

The post Touring Bradford White’s Heat Pump Water Heater Factory Was a Dream Come True For This Efficiency Nerd appeared first on CleanTechnica.

My Heat Pump Water Heater Tour Across America

Joe Wachunas — Tue, 10 Sep 2024 16:46:39 +0000

This summer I embarked on a cross country tour of America to see the quiet revolution taking place in decarbonized water heating. I had the opportunity to visit factories that produce heat pump water heaters, installers that are training their staff to capture the oncoming tidal wave of installations, National ... [continued]

The post My Heat Pump Water Heater Tour Across America appeared first on CleanTechnica.

One Home Builder Grows the Entire Heat Pump Water Heater Market by 30%

Joe Wachunas — Wed, 12 Jun 2024 18:55:26 +0000

Clayton, a leading single-family home builder, recently made big environmental news by deciding to convert nearly all of the 42,000 modern manufactured homes it builds annually to be certified ENERGY STAR and Zero Energy Ready Homes (ZEHR). These certifications mean that its manufactured homes will be much more efficient, save ... [continued]

The post One Home Builder Grows the Entire Heat Pump Water Heater Market by 30% appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Americans Burn 50% Less Fossil Fuel in Their Homes Than They Did 50 Years Ago

Joe Wachunas — Fri, 10 May 2024 19:10:03 +0000

Americans burn much less fossil fuel in their homes on average and use much more electricity compared to half a century ago. This good news means that even though the “Electrify Everything” movement became a leading decarbonization strategy a decade or so ago, American homes had actually been steadily electrifying ... [continued]

The post Americans Burn 50% Less Fossil Fuel in Their Homes Than They Did 50 Years Ago appeared first on CleanTechnica.

The US Saw Record Percentages Of Heat Pump & Electric Water Heater Sales In 2023

Joe Wachunas — Mon, 04 Mar 2024 16:58:39 +0000

The “Electrify Everything” movement is full steam ahead in American homes, according to the latest data from AHRI which tracks annual shipments of furnaces, heat pumps, and water heaters. Heat pumps for space heating and electric water heaters have set new records, and gas equipment continued to decline as a ... [continued]

The post The US Saw Record Percentages Of Heat Pump & Electric Water Heater Sales In 2023 appeared first on CleanTechnica.

A. O. Smith’s New 120V Heat Pump Water Heater Allows You To Plug It Into A Standard Outlet

Joe Wachunas — Wed, 28 Feb 2024 21:08:11 +0000

A. O. Smith just released a 120V plug-in heat pump water heater (HPWH), which is the second model to arrive on the mass market (the first to market, Rheem, I reviewed here). It is an exciting product with some innovative designs that allows many households to more easily replace their ... [continued]

The post A. O. Smith’s New 120V Heat Pump Water Heater Allows You To Plug It Into A Standard Outlet appeared first on CleanTechnica.

The US Added 1.2 Million EVs To The Grid Last Year, & Electricity Use Went Down

Joe Wachunas — Fri, 02 Feb 2024 16:10:40 +0000

2023 set another record for EV sales in the United States. About 1.2 million vehicles, or 7.6% of all sales, were electric according to Kelley Blue Book. With over 1 million new EVs plugging into garage outlets, home charging stations, and Superchargers, you’d think our electricity usage would have shot ... [continued]

The post The US Added 1.2 Million EVs To The Grid Last Year, & Electricity Use Went Down appeared first on CleanTechnica.

When Your Local Public Radio Station Advertises Fossil Fuels

Joe Wachunas — Fri, 05 Jan 2024 16:28:09 +0000

My local public radio station, Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB), which broadcasts throughout Oregon and southwest Washington, has been running advertisements for a fossil gas utility named Northwest Natural over the past year. OPB has aired ads about the gas utility’s appliance store where users can go and buy fossil fuel-powered, ... [continued]

The post When Your Local Public Radio Station Advertises Fossil Fuels appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Heat Pump Water Heater Sales in 2022 Signal a Decisive Shift in Water Heating Trends

Joe Wachunas — Wed, 25 Oct 2023 14:30:59 +0000

Celebrate Heat Pump Water Heater Day — October 25! Energy-efficient water heating took significant strides in 2022, according to the latest data released by ENERGY STAR. Sales of heat pump water heaters (HPWHs) grew 26% last year, while sales of gas water heaters declined by 17%, underlining a clear shift in the U.S. ... [continued]

The post Heat Pump Water Heater Sales in 2022 Signal a Decisive Shift in Water Heating Trends appeared first on CleanTechnica.

The Workhorse of the Heat Pump Water Heater World — Bradford White’s Aerotherm

Joe Wachunas — Tue, 03 Oct 2023 15:28:21 +0000

While electric cars and e-bikes get a lot of attention, there’s a forgotten technology living in your basement or garage that can help significantly reduce your carbon footprint without ever leaving home. Heat pump water heaters (HPWH) not only save 1 ton of CO2 emissions annually compared to gas water ... [continued]

The post The Workhorse of the Heat Pump Water Heater World — Bradford White’s Aerotherm appeared first on CleanTechnica.

5 Things To Do If Canadian Wildfire Smoke Has Woken You Up To The Climate Emergency

Joe Wachunas — Mon, 03 Jul 2023 20:35:28 +0000

“The information and opinions outlined in this article are those of the author and do not represent the positions of New Buildings Institute” Wildfires wake us up. They sound alarm bells. Their smoke calls attention to our atmosphere, which we’ve taken for granted (and dumped pollution into) for centuries. They ... [continued]

The post 5 Things To Do If Canadian Wildfire Smoke Has Woken You Up To The Climate Emergency appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Central Heat Pump Water Heaters Are A Crucial Technology To Decarbonize Multi-Family & Commercial Buildings

Joe Wachunas — Fri, 26 May 2023 22:35:49 +0000

Water heating uses a lot of energy, and consequently costs a lot of money and creates a lot of pollution. The heat pump water heater is the silver bullet to these water heating problems. It’s efficient, saves money, reduces or eliminates air pollution, and it delivers hot water with faster ... [continued]

The post Central Heat Pump Water Heaters Are A Crucial Technology To Decarbonize Multi-Family & Commercial Buildings appeared first on CleanTechnica.

This Earth Day, Invest In A Heat Pump Water Heater & Do The Equivalent Of Planting A Tree (Or Forest)

Joe Wachunas — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 03:50:49 +0000

The energy efficiency, cost savings, and versatility of heat pump water heaters (HPWHs) make them a clear choice for the environment and households across the U.S. With 120 million water heaters in the U.S. alone, we could save over 100 million tons in carbon emissions every year if all the ... [continued]

The post This Earth Day, Invest In A Heat Pump Water Heater & Do The Equivalent Of Planting A Tree (Or Forest) appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Bay Area Sets NOx Emissions Standards for Gas Water Heaters & Furnaces, Effectively Ending Sales Starting in 2027

Joe Wachunas — Fri, 24 Mar 2023 13:10:14 +0000

Big news for clean air last week. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) adopted amendments requiring the elimination of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from new water heaters by 2027 and new furnaces by 2029. We’ve been hearing about the indoor pollution from gas stoves this year. Gas water ... [continued]

The post Bay Area Sets NOx Emissions Standards for Gas Water Heaters & Furnaces, Effectively Ending Sales Starting in 2027 appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Central Heat Pump Water Heaters Can Act As Massive Water Batteries, Seattle Pilot Project Shows

Joe Wachunas — Tue, 28 Feb 2023 16:45:37 +0000

Central heat pump water heaters (CHPWH) present a tremendous opportunity to reduce the substantial energy used in water heating and can act as giant thermal batteries. They do this by using energy to heat water during times of low grid demand and storing it for later use, enabling them to ... [continued]

The post Central Heat Pump Water Heaters Can Act As Massive Water Batteries, Seattle Pilot Project Shows appeared first on CleanTechnica.

All I Want For Christmas Is A New Voltex AL Heat Pump Water Heater

Joe Wachunas — Thu, 22 Dec 2022 00:37:30 +0000

Heat pump water heaters (HPWHs) are a key technology for a zero-emissions 21st century. They are 2–4 times more efficient than fossil gas or electric resistance water heaters, emit little if any CO2 (depending on your electricity mix), and cost around $100 a year to operate. And, if you’ve got ... [continued]

The post All I Want For Christmas Is A New Voltex AL Heat Pump Water Heater appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Hug Your Super-Efficient Water Heater On Heat Pump Water Heater Day

Joe Wachunas — Tue, 25 Oct 2022 03:06:57 +0000

You’ve heard of tree huggers? Well, on October 26, the Advanced Water Heating Initiative and hundreds of other organizations will celebrate another cylindrical climate saving object we should all be excited about (and maybe even hugging) — the heat pump water heater. I know it may sound strange to hug ... [continued]

The post Hug Your Super-Efficient Water Heater On Heat Pump Water Heater Day appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Celebrate Drive Electric Week With A Virtual Tour Of A Ford Lightning

Joe Wachunas — Wed, 28 Sep 2022 10:30:58 +0000

It’s Drive Electric Week! The annual event to celebrate, try out, and transition to electric transportation runs from September 23 – October 2. CleanTechnica is marking the week by partnering with three nonprofit organizations, Electrify Now, Forth, and EEBA, to present a behind the scenes look at the auto industry. ... [continued]

The post Celebrate Drive Electric Week With A Virtual Tour Of A Ford Lightning appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Rheem Releases 120V Plug-In Heat Pump Water Heater That Can Be Plugged Into Typical Outlet

Joe Wachunas — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 18:00:24 +0000

Last fall I wrote about how 120 volt heat pump water heaters were just about to come out on the market. Well, they’re finally here! Rheem released its 120V ProTerra(R) Plug-in Heat Pump water heater (HPWH) in July and everyone is excited! Ok, you may not geek out on heat ... [continued]

The post Rheem Releases 120V Plug-In Heat Pump Water Heater That Can Be Plugged Into Typical Outlet appeared first on CleanTechnica.

The Scientific Reason Why Air-Dried Laundry Smells so Good

Joe Wachunas — Mon, 22 Aug 2022 15:35:32 +0000

I’m a big evangelist for hang-drying laundry. It’s the original form of solar energy, in which you use the sun to dry your clothes instead of an energy hungry dryer. Dryers account for something like 3% of all electricity usage (equivalent to all the solar panels currently installed) in the ... [continued]

The post The Scientific Reason Why Air-Dried Laundry Smells so Good appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Eugene Becomes First City in Oregon to Ban Natural Gas

Joe Wachunas — Sun, 31 Jul 2022 00:35:51 +0000

“The power of vested interests is vastly exaggerated compared with the gradual encroachment of ideas.” — John Maynard Keynes The city of Eugene, Oregon, is on the world’s radar for two reasons these days. First, it lived up to its nickname as “Tracktown USA” and became the first city in ... [continued]

The post Eugene Becomes First City in Oregon to Ban Natural Gas appeared first on CleanTechnica.

We Spent $95 To Drive 2,700 Miles On A Summer Roadtrip. Life With An EV Is Sweet Indeed

Joe Wachunas — Sat, 23 Jul 2022 13:00:53 +0000

For the second year in a row, my family embarked on a massive EV road trip. Five of us — my wife, 3 year-old, 7-year-old, and 17-year old exchange student — piled into a rented Model 3 and drove 2,661 miles across the Northeast to see family and friends and ... [continued]

The post We Spent $95 To Drive 2,700 Miles On A Summer Roadtrip. Life With An EV Is Sweet Indeed appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Converting From Fuel Oil To Heat Pumps Would Save The US 47% Of The Oil We Used To Import From Russia

Joe Wachunas — Mon, 30 May 2022 18:45:14 +0000

To save the planet from catastrophic climate change, and win the war against belligerent petro-states, our best strategy boils down to the rapid deployment of three key technologies: electric vehicles (EVs), solar panels, and heat pumps. The first two technologies are flashy and compelling and show up daily in CleanTechnica ... [continued]

The post Converting From Fuel Oil To Heat Pumps Would Save The US 47% Of The Oil We Used To Import From Russia appeared first on CleanTechnica.

With LA’s Vote, America’s Two Largest Cities Have Said No New Fossil Gas

Joe Wachunas — Mon, 30 May 2022 15:33:47 +0000

The Los Angeles City Council voted on Friday to prohibit fossil fuels in new construction. The Council directed departments to develop a plan over the next six months “that will require all new residential and commercial buildings in Los Angeles to be built so that they will achieve zero-carbon emissions.” ... [continued]

The post With LA’s Vote, America’s Two Largest Cities Have Said No New Fossil Gas appeared first on CleanTechnica.

This Earth Day, Kick Fossil Gas Out Of Your Kitchen

Joe Wachunas — Fri, 22 Apr 2022 19:34:43 +0000

Gas stoves, like gas anything, are a 20th century technology that doesn’t have a place in our clean century. They served their purpose over the last decades, but now that we have research showing how much they pollute in our homes and outdoors, and considering the excellent high-performing electric alternatives, ... [continued]

The post This Earth Day, Kick Fossil Gas Out Of Your Kitchen appeared first on CleanTechnica.

A Heat Pump Water Heater Is The Energy Saving Equivalent Of 7 Solar Panels & Costs ⅙ the Price

Joe Wachunas — Fri, 08 Apr 2022 15:28:59 +0000

My sister is in the process of building a house in Ohio, and I’ve been having conversations with her about how to make it green. She and my brother-in-law both consider me to be eco-crazed (arguably rightly so given the climactic and political stakes) and so tend to raise eyebrows ... [continued]

The post A Heat Pump Water Heater Is The Energy Saving Equivalent Of 7 Solar Panels & Costs ⅙ the Price appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Fight Back Against the Fossil Fuels Autocrats: Electrify & Decarbonize!

Joe Wachunas — Mon, 28 Feb 2022 18:55:34 +0000

For too long, I think, we’ve seen that one of the many downsides to our reliance on fossil fuels is that it empowers autocrats in petrostates to spread chaos at home and across the world. It’s time to Electrify & Decarbonize. From Venezuela to Nigeria to Saudi Arabia to most ... [continued]

The post Fight Back Against the Fossil Fuels Autocrats: Electrify & Decarbonize! appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Electric Bus Talk: Repowering The Diesel Fleet Could Save Millions

Joe Wachunas — Tue, 15 Feb 2022 15:55:04 +0000

Instead of replacing a diesel bus with a brand-new electric bus, why not convert it?

The post Electric Bus Talk: Repowering The Diesel Fleet Could Save Millions appeared first on CleanTechnica.

First Electric School Bus in NYC is an EV Conversion & That’s a Big Deal!

Joe Wachunas — Sun, 30 Jan 2022 20:40:00 +0000

Critics of electrification often call early retirement of long-life diesel trucks and buses an expensive waste - but this EV conversion program is giving diesels a new lease on life with an EV conversion!

The post First Electric School Bus in NYC is an EV Conversion & That’s a Big Deal! appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Natural Gas Becomes Important Battleground In Transition From Fossil Fuels

Joe Wachunas — Fri, 21 Jan 2022 17:14:33 +0000

2021 was a big year for natural gas bans as cities continue to lead the way in phasing out gas from homes and buildings. From New York City’s recent ban on gas in new construction, to Californian cities’ steady march to “cut the pipe,” to the backlash and ban on ... [continued]

The post Natural Gas Becomes Important Battleground In Transition From Fossil Fuels appeared first on CleanTechnica.

120 Volt Heat Pump Water Heaters Hit the Market & Make Gas Replacements Even Easier

Joe Wachunas — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 21:50:13 +0000

Updated: Editor’s note – a previous version of this article stated that the Rheem 120 V water heater was already for sale. This water heater is expected to hit the market in the first half of 2022. We regret the error. There are big developments happening in the world of ... [continued]

The post 120 Volt Heat Pump Water Heaters Hit the Market & Make Gas Replacements Even Easier appeared first on CleanTechnica.

“Renewable Natural Gas” Is the Ultimate Red Herring

Joe Wachunas — Fri, 17 Sep 2021 03:31:40 +0000

There are three fossil fuels we must stop burning if we are to save our planet: coal, oil, and methane (aka “natural”) gas. Coal is declining precipitously. Scientists think we hit peak coal in 2013, and American use of coal has fallen by over 50% in the last 10 years ... [continued]

The post “Renewable Natural Gas” Is the Ultimate Red Herring appeared first on CleanTechnica.

13 Tips For Hang Drying Laundry & Saving The Planet With Your Undies

Joe Wachunas — Sun, 22 Aug 2021 00:10:25 +0000

Hang drying clothes is a simple way to save massive amounts of energy. Hear me out — the statistics are startling. The average American family does 2300 pounds of laundry per year, and drying that, literal ton, of laundry in a clothes dryer uses close to 1000 kWh of electricity ... [continued]

The post 13 Tips For Hang Drying Laundry & Saving The Planet With Your Undies appeared first on CleanTechnica.

Ductless Heat Pumps Demystified

Joe Wachunas — Sat, 31 Jul 2021 01:30:26 +0000

Climate change has the odd effect of making many of us inordinately excited about appliances we never used to care about. Suddenly, all the background machines, which have up to now been unconsciously powering our lives, have taken on outsized importance. Some of them have the potential to provide the ... [continued]

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