OREANDA-NEWS. Smart Water Heat, an initiative of the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA), announced a promotion with GE Appliances to raise awareness and increase adoption of water heaters that use highly efficient heat pump technology, like GE's GeoSpring™ Hybrid Electric Water Heater. Through May 29, Smart Water Heat is funding a USD 200 instant rebate for residents in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana to make the water heater more affordable.1

 "The instant rebate from Smart Water Heat, combined with additional rebates from our utility partners and the USD 300 federal tax credit, makes buying an energy-efficient water heater much more affordable for residents in the Northwest," said Jill Reynolds, initiative manager for Smart Water Heat at NEEA. This does not include taxes and installation charges. With many utility rebates, professional installation is required and installations must be performed in compliance with all local codes.2

"Most people aren't thinking about replacing a water heater unless it breaks," said Reynolds. "With the more efficient heat pump technology, a consumer can save energy, decreasing their water-heating costs and ultimately saving them money. As a result, it is very reasonable to proactively upgrade rather than waiting for an existing water heater to fail."

 Many homeowners don't realize their water heater is the second single-biggest, energy-consuming appliance in their home.3 "With GeoSpring's advanced heat pump technology, a consumer can save more than USD 3,000 over 10 years. The savings can be used toward a vacation, shopping spree, home improvement or rainy-day fund," said Francois Lebrasseur, marketing manager, water products, for GE Appliances. "We're very excited to work with NEEA to spread the word about savings potential with the GeoSpring."

Technology that drives energy and cost savings
The GeoSpring's hybrid technology is designed to absorb heat in ambient air and transfer it into the water. Since this uses much less energy than what's needed to generate resistance heat—as used in a conventional electric tank water heater—the GeoSpring is more economical to operate.

Other features of the GeoSpring:

Includes same water and electrical connections as the standard electric water heater, making it easy to install.
Provides the same amount of hot water as traditional 50-gallon standard electric water heaters.
Features integrated electronics on the control panel with exclusive features such as Vacation Mode, which lowers the water temperature to 50 degrees for the duration of a trip, then automatically reenergizes itself the day before the homeowner's return.
Offers additional control over water temperature by allowing consumers to adjust the temperature setting.