Heat Pump Water Heaters - Ready for Takeoff
Thursday, November 19, 2026
12:00 - 1:00pm CST
Technical Content Level: Fundamentals
Residential heat pump water heaters are at an inflection point. While still only 2-3% of all water heater sales, there are multiple signs that adoption could increase significantly over the next 5-10 years. Joe Wachunas will provide a wide-ranging update of the market trends, lessons learned, and ongoing collaboration with the Advanced Water Heating Initiative. This session will explore these trends including:
→ A look at the 18 manufacturers now making residential HPWHs
→ A look at the form factors offered by various manufacturers and what might be coming in the near future
→ A look at the policy drivers accelerating adoption including the 2029 water heater standard.
→ A look at what barriers and challenges remain and key research that is attempting to address them.
Joe Wachunas is an Associate Director at the nonprofit New Buildings Institute but likes to call himself a "Water Heating Nerd." He helps lead the Advanced Water Heating Initiative, which is a market transformation initiative trying to accelerate the adoption of heat pump water heaters.
