SEGWHAI

The Super Efficient Gas Water Heating Appliance Initiative (SEGWHAI) under the direction of the Valley Energy Efficiency Cooperative has assembled a team including DEG, ACEEE, and LBNL to investigate technical opportunities and develop market connections for advanced residential water heaters. Residential water heating consumes nearly 10% of energy used in buildings nationally. Efficiency improvements over the years have been limited to date, but the SEGWHAI team is exploring the potential benefits of low standby water heaters that are optimized for the retrofit market. SEGWHAI is coordinating extensively with California gas utilities, the Consortium for Energy Efficiency, the water heating industry, and air quality management districts. Developing the infrastructure for programmatic cooperation and longer term utility incentives is a key element in the SEGWHAI effort.