Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 2

SAIT Polytechnic will assist in developing and carrying-out a research project that will review existing industry precedents regarding hot water heating systems, test and analyze the difference between a basic electric hot water tank versus an upgraded electric hot water tank, analyze the energy savings of using drain water heat recovery systems, in addition to testing various solar hot water system configurations combined with an electric based back-up system. The project aims to collect data on hot water consumption, the amount of electricity used to heat the water, the associated cost of the electricity used, the potential electricity saved by using solar thermal technology and the associated return on investment timeframe of combining a solar thermal system with an electric back-up. The proposed project will take place over a two and half year period and the results will provide Brookfield Residential with concrete knowledge of different hot water heating system options, so that this information can be properly marketed to prospective home buyers, with accurate payback timeframes and the associated environmental benefits of utilizing enhanced sustainable technologies.