Heat pump water heaters (HPWH) should play a bigger role in the future as part of the push toward electrification. The units work by using electricity to draw heat from the surrounding area and using that to heat water in the tank. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, these units can be two to three times more energy efficient than conventional electric resistance water heaters.
Still, adoption has been slow. That’s why Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEAA), an alliance of utilities and other organizations, started making a push to increase awareness. The campaigns target consumers in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington.