Advanced Energy Communities: Centralized Heat Pump Water Heater Retrofit at Sierra Vista

Domestic hot water system electrification is a high-potential decarbonization opportunity in multifamily buildings. Based on U.S. government data, this end use accounts for 28% of multifamily residential energy consumption in the United States (EIA, 2016). Centralized heat pump water heating systems are particularly promising replacements for gas boilers as they offer substantial energy efficiency and demand response potential. With those facts in mind, EPRI partnered with National Community Renaissance (National CORE) and San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) to replace existing boilers with Sanden’s SanCO2 heat pumps for central water heating in an affordable multifamily housing community in San Marcos, California. This report presents findings on operational performance, industry barriers, energy costs, greenhouse gas emissions, and the importance of on-site generation to offsetting electrification costs in SDG&E territory.