California Hotel Installs A. O. Smith CHP-120 Heat Pump Water Heaters to Maximize Hot Water Efficiency
The staff at Spark by Hilton in Redlands, California turned to AO Smith because they needed a water heater that could provide their hotel with enough hot water. Providing 24/7 hot water to a hotel with 85 rooms, a kitchen, and multiple commercial laundries is no easy task. But for AO Smith it was the perfect opportunity to showcase the performance of the CHP-120 fully integrated commercial heat pump water heater (HPWH).
The hotel chose to install four CHP-120 HPWH units, all functioning as part of a single, fully integrated water heating system. For the tendering engineer, integrating the system was crucial as it would make installation much easier and more cost-effective for the hotel.
“I prefer the integrated system of the CHP-120 model because it makes installation and piping easier than other competitive technologies,” said Peter Yoon, senior specification engineer and owner of American Power Solutions. “The CHP-120 unit is more compact, meaning our team does not have to worry about the typical mechanical space limitations of the average commercial unit. We also don’t have to worry about extra space for insulation or the need for a large pipe for the system, which makes my job very easy and straightforward.”
“The units take two days to install, with only 10 hours of water shutoff required. After these ten hours of work, your machine will be ready for use,” Yoon noted. “It doesn’t require much maintenance other than changing the filter every year or two, so I love it.”
Beyond improving the installation process, the CHP-120 HPWH provides the hotel with incredible energy cost savings. The CHP-120 unit is four times more efficient than a traditional electric water heater and saves the hotel up to $3,000 per unit on its annual electric bills. The CHP-120 achieves this by removing heat from the surrounding air rather than generating heat, allowing it to operate at an industry-leading coefficient of performance (CoP) of 4.3.
The CHP-120 HPWH has three different operating modes for maximum efficiency. The three operating modes (efficiency, hybrid and electric) allow facility managers to adapt to the hotel's varying hot water needs as needed. Plant managers can easily switch between modes thanks to the CHP-120 unit's large touchscreen LCD display, which allows mode selection and displays running information, including troubleshooting alerts and details. Two 6 kW heating elements integrated into the device provide additional heating power in times of high demand. This feature ensures that even when maximum capacity is reached, the hotel can still provide sufficient hot water to customers, even those staying on the top floors.
“We used to get customer complaints about there being no hot water on the upper floors of the hotel, but since the installation of the AO Smith CHP-120 units, there have been no customer complaints,” the hotel manager said. “The hot water on the first floor has the same hot water temperature as the guests on the third floor of the hotel.”
In addition to improving the guest experience, the CHP-120 unit is eligible for significant discounts from utility companies in the state of California. The payback period for installing a unit is expected to be just under two years.
“With the current discount program, it’s almost free for the customer,” Yoon said. “When replacing an old boiler, investing in new technology is usually the biggest obstacle, but with the CHP-120 HPWH we received a big discount up front. California has ambitious energy conservation goals and offers generous rebates on high-efficiency technology like the CHP-120 model. We received a $20,000 rebate for each unit we installed at Spark Hotel.”
“When switching from a gas water heater to the CHP-120 HPWH, the savings are dramatic. Customers could be wasting thousands of dollars each year if they don't switch, said Anthony Sun, Delco salesperson. “Once installed, the CHP-120 unit can operate in efficiency mode, using only the compressor, cool air and hot air in the room to heat the water, saving the hotel money and energy.”
Products used:
Four AO Smith CHP-120 fully integrated heat pump commercial water heaters
Features and Benefits:
- Industry Leading 4.3 Coefficient of Performance (COP)
- ENERGY STAR® certified
- Heat pump technology offers a more energy efficient way to heat water using electricity
- The integrated 119-gallon tank allows the heat pump to run more frequently, saving you money
- Three operating modes (Efficiency, Hybrid and Electric) maximize efficiency while meeting specific hot water needs
- First hour delivery exceeds 194 GPH
- Two 6kW heating elements provide additional heating power during times of high demand
- Maximum water temperature of 150°F in efficiency and hybrid modes and 180°F in electric mode
- The large touchscreen LCD display allows mode selection, provides running information, and includes warnings and troubleshooting details
For more information about the CHP-120 HPWH and other products, visit www.hotwater.com.
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