Waste and Envirometal.... But it's Green Right?

[Toyman at Jewel Lake]

It makes perfect sense in hot months. You get hot water and "free" air conditioning as a side benefit. In the winter, not so much, unless it's secured in a separate room and vented to the outside.

[thecoalman]

Originally Posted by katzpaw

Although less efficient in winter, and fighting the furnace, they still show a net benefit.

Nor unless they have figured out how to break the laws of physics.

<insert 1 BTU from any fuel here> >> directly heat the hot water with it

This is the most efficient and least costly way to do it. With this unit what you are doing is this.


<insert 1 BTU from any fuel here> >> heat the air with it >> mechanically convert to heat the water

All of that electric in the last step is unneeded energy.

[thecoalman]

Originally Posted by Toyman at Jewel Lake

In the winter, not so much, unless it's secured in a separate room and vented to the outside.

The air it produces is going to be warmer than the outside air so venting it outside will not work. You'll just be drawing colder air from the outside to replace it.