GE's GeoSpring™ water heater reduces utility bills, saves hundreds of dollars
LOUISVILLE, Ky., --- Oct. 19, 2011 --- (NYSE: GE) --- When the Western Arizona Council of Government (WACOG) applied for a $2 million grant from the Sustainable Energy Resources for Consumers (SERC) grant, Director Jack Valentine chose to offer Region IV's constituents an easy way to reduce their monthly bills.
"We decided to go with the GE GeoSpring™ hybrid water heater because of its efficiency, size and simplicity. Our weatherization program had just completed a project where many of the homes didn't have the roof structure [necessary] to support the benefit we were offering. The GeoSpring is pretty universal and should fit in most of our participants' houses," said Valentine. GE's GeoSpring water heater is an ENERGY STAR® product.
Money- and energy-saving technology
GE introduced its GeoSpring hybrid water heater last year, and it's proving to be an energy-reducing upgrade that can save many households about $320 a year on utilities --- that's $3,200 savings in energy costs over a 10--year period based on 10.65 cents per kWh.*
By utilizing heat pump technology in combination with traditional electric elements, this hybrid water heater pulls heat from surrounding air and transfers it to the tank. This innovative process creates the same amount of hot water as a traditional water heater, but can reduce energy expenses up to 62 percent.* The GeoSpring allows families searching for ways to pay for medication, groceries or gas a way to get some relief by writing a smaller check for their utility bills.
After evaluating the other heat pump water heater options available, WACOG felt that GeoSpring's 50-gallon size, in addition to the location of water and electrical connections, allowed for easy replacement of standard electric water heaters, which simplifies the job for the local plumbers that will be getting increased installation business resulting from this project.
To make sure as many residents as possible can qualify for the grant, WACOG requested and received an increase to the program's income limit. Valentine estimates that income limit to be about $93,000 a year for a family of five. "It's a very inclusive grant," said Sierra Ashley, GE Appliances market development manager, who has helped GE coordinate with WACOG.
The SERC grant was created to allow local weatherization agencies to install weatherization materials and technologies that have promise for energy savings and benefits to consumers. Of the $120 million available nationwide, WACOG was awarded about $2 million.
WACOG has already installed more than 250 GeoSpring to date.
WACOG serves Mohave, La Paz and Yuma counties in Arizona. For those interested in applying for weatherization help, visit WACOG.com and apply online, call 1-888-453-5802 Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., or stop by one of the WACOG offices.
For more information and photography about the GE GeoSpring hybrid water heater go to pressroom.geconsumerproducts.com/pr/ge/ge-turns-up-the-heat-on-its-hybrid-179713.aspx.
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GE Appliances & Lighting spans the globe as an industry leader in major appliances, lighting, systems and services for commercial, industrial and residential use. Technology innovation and the company's ecomaginationSM initiative enable GE Appliances & Lighting to aggressively bring to market products and solutions that help customers meet pressing environmental challenges. General Electric (NYSE: GE), imagination at work, sells products under the Monogram®, Profile™, Café™, GE®, Hotpoint®, Reveal® and Energy Smart® consumer brands, and Tetra®, Vio™ and Immersion® commercial brands. For more information, consumers may visit www.ge.com.
*Based on DOE test procedure and comparison of a 50-gallon standard electric tank water heater using 4881 kWh per year vs. the GE hybrid water heater using 1856 kWh per year and national average of 10.65 cents per kWh.
Kim Freeman
GE Consumer & Industrial - Americas
[email protected]
502-452-7819