. Sales of heat pump water heaters grew 26% last year, while sales of gas water heaters declined by 17%, underlining a clear shift in the U.S. toward more efficient, electric-powered water heating systems.
This is good news for the HPWH industry, which has seen significant growth in its first decade on the market but still accounts for less than 2% of the water heater market. It’s also good news for the environment, as HPWHs have energy efficiency levels 2–4 times higher than other types of water heaters, and$117/year to operateusing state -level utility data from EIA and energy usage estimates from Energy Guide. Graphics created by Noah Gabriel, Senior Project Analyst, New Buildings Institute.
This decline included ENERGY STAR-certified gas water heater models such as tankless water heaters, which fell by 6%, and condensing units, which fell by 22%. In fact, 2022 marks the first time that one-year sales of both models have declined since 2011. So far in 2023, sales of gas water heaters have stayed consistent with 2022 numbers.
We are at an important crossroads in the water heating industry. Public policies, state and federal incentives, and consumer demand could lead to a drastic increase in HPWH sales in the coming years. While 2022 was a big year for the HPWH industry, many signs point to continued and possibly exponential growth in the years ahead. Stay up to date on news and trends in water heating by signing up for theon Wednesday, October 25, 2023.