The foodservice industry is notoriously difficult to decarbonize, especially when it comes to water heating. From quick-service chains to grocery stores and fine dining, each subsector has its own challenges, from volatile draw profiles (how much water a site uses each day and when) to a lack of airflow or available space for efficient heat pump water heaters (HPWHs). In our field research, the Advanced Water Heating Initiative (AWHI) identified three key factors that influence how efficiently HPWHs run in foodservice settings, including hot water demand, ambient air temperature near the water heater, and whether the site uses continuous recirculation.
Heat pump replacements already exist and have been installed in the field, but up until now, real-world performance data has been sparse. We set out to understand how HPWHs are performing in small commercial buildings by conducting the first comprehensive field study of the technology. We wanted to see how these systems are performing and what strategies and configurations could help them perform better.
Read Our Full Article in CleanTechnica
New High Temperature HPWH Factsheet
AWHI created a factsheet to examine the current landscape of high-temperature heat pump water heater technologies and summarize available equipment, typical use cases and building types, expected costs, and key barriers to adoption.
Watch our High Temp HPWH Manufacturer’s Roundtable Recording from yesterday’s roundtable
HPWH Residential HPWH Manufacturer Training - April 21 + 22
April 21+ 22 - 8:00 AM - 9:30 AM Eastern
Register for the April 22 Session
AWHI is hosting a HPWH training session for Heat Pump Week and Earth Day. Join us to hear from all manufacturers and help spread the word! Access the flyer below.
Partner News
AWHI featured in Washington Post article on HPWHs - The Washington Post published an in-depth article on HPWHs this week showing how they can pay for themselves in two years. AWHI resources were highlighted throughout the article and was quoted as saying, “This is a silver-bullet technology to save money and energy.” Read the article here
HPWH Training through HERO Academy - The HERO Academy is a 15-week workforce development program offered by Earth Advantage and Great Northwest Installations focused on training new workers for energy efficient jobs in the residential trades. In January 2026, two trainees, Oscar Chavez and Ezequiel Delgado-Cervantes, started learning about heat pump water heaters and training in the field with Great Northwest Installation staff. They are currently pursuing their State of Oregon Water Heater Installer License and their EPA 608 certification, and will graduate on May 7th, after which they will be seeking permanent jobs as water heater installers in the Portland, Oregon metro area. Learn more here
Maine Receives $43 Million for HPWHs - Governor Janet Mills announced $43 million in new Federal funding for Maine to support the installation of high-efficiency heat pump water heaters, which can reduce energy bills by hundreds of dollars annually for Maine households. The funding is through the New England Heat Pump Accelerator, a collaborative multi-state initiative supported by a Federal grant to rapidly increase the adoption of heat pump technology across the region. This funding will help boost Efficiency Maine’s existing program (which is already the most successful in the nation) to new heights. Maine consumers will see no changes as the program continues as usual. Read more here.
AHRI 1530 published - Last month, AHRI announced the publication of the new ANSI/AHRI Standard 1530-2025 (I-P), Demand-Flexible Commercial Electric Storage Water Heaters. This standard provides performance criteria for demand-flexible commercial electric storage water heaters and is being incorporated into ENERGY STAR commercial heat pump water heater specifications. Learn more here.
Heat Pump Week - April 11-19 - Get ready to Get Heat Pumped Up with the California Heat Pump Partnership’s Heat Pump Week April 11-19, 2026. Check out all the exciting events for the week here.
Don’t miss AWHI’s commercial HPWH Training on April 15
Join us for an immersive learning experience focused on commercial heat pump water heaters (HPWHs). This special event features a presentation from a leading thinker in Research and Design at a firm pioneering commercial HPWH installations, along with interactive training, and a manufacturer trade fair during Heat Pump Week. Whether you’re new to commercial HPWHs or sharpening your skills, this event is built for the trades.
In case you missed it
AWHI’s monthly working group meetings are always full of incredible content on advanced water heating. Here is a selection from our March webinars and meetings:
Commercial Working Group - Presentations from Nyle and Tacoma Power plus updates on the CEE qualified products list and AWHI’s small commercial HPWH research.
Utility Working Group - Presentation by MCE’s residential HPWH program. Recording here
Hydronic Working Group - Presentation by Steve Nadel on market potential and lifecycle costs for alternative heating systems in the United States, focusing on hydronic heating. Recording here.
Sign up for all AWHI Working Groups to get meeting invites by completing the form below
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