James Owen Pro

NEEA called on us to develop a cost-effective and scalable gas combi reference design for the consumer market that helps sorption-style heat pumps to compete against “standard” direct-fired heating systems such as gas powered furnaces and electric baseboard heating. Sorption heat pumps, such as the NEEA gas combi reference design pictured here, are powered by a heat source – natural gas, waste heat, and even solar power. Sorption heat pumps can provide heating, cooling or refrigeration and use natural refrigerants with zero global warming potential.

Space-heating for commercial and residential structures is a major source of energy use, especially during peak winter and summer months. On average, heating and cooling in the U.S. accounts for 29% of residential energy use and 14% of commercial use. Heating bills are a significant cost for homeowners, particularly in northern regions and traditional heating appliances, such as furnaces and boilers, typically operate well below the manufacturer's ideal efficiency rating.

The Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance's thermally-driven gas combi heat pump technology can be configured in a wide-variety of ways to heat the majority of homes, and most small to medium-sized businesses in North America. The NEEA gas combi unit can operate with existing forced air ductwork, or hydronically via baseboard heaters or radiant floor heating.