R.P. Fedder Industrial, LLC is the exclusive, Western New York distributor of the first commercial carbon dioxide heat pump water heaters in North America to use natural refrigerant. The newly introduced Aegis Heat Pumps by Lync, a Watts brand, are high-efficiency, environmentally friendly hot water systems for customers holding themselves to the highest sustainability standards. Aegis heat pumps are well-suited to New York’s frigid winters because, unlike electric heat pumps developed to date, they can operate efficiently with ambient temperatures of -4° and above.

“We are excited to offer this first-of-its-kind energy-efficient water heater solution to our customers. Essentially, it’s hot water for a renewable energy world,” says Chris Fox, president of R.P. Fedder. “By using a natural refrigerant, CO2, this system will enable our customers to accomplish important decarbonization and environmental protection goals while saving money. It’s a great solution for any institution striving to meet green standards.”

Until now, the only real, economically viable option for commercial-scale domestic hot water in the northern U.S. has been fossil fuel. For facilities that have switched their electricity generation to a renewable, sustainable source, this means lasting reliance on fossil fuels simply to heat water. As an electric heat pump, Aegis can derive energy from the same renewable source as other building systems.

Available in air and water source models, Aegis heat pumps are powered by R744, commonly referred to as refrigerant grade CO2. This is non-toxic, non-flammable, has an Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) of zero, and a low Global Warming Potential (GWP) of one. That’s compared to other refrigerants, such as R134a and R410a, which have GWP of 1,430 and 2,088, respectively. Maximum efficiency is achieved because the Aegis heat pump water heaters simply absorb and move heat from the surrounding area, eliminating the need to generate supplemental heat. Depending on the model, air or water is pulled into the pump and its heat is absorbed by the CO2; cool air or water is then exhausted. The refrigerant is pumped through a compressor, increasing its temperature. At the same time, cool water from the tank is circulated to the top and draws heat from the heated CO2 inside the condenser coil.

New heat pump technology using CO2 makes it possible to use electric heat pumps in below-zero temperatures while providing a comparable total cost of ownership versus natural gas (even at historically low natural gas prices). Aegis produces hot water up to 185° with outdoor air temperatures as low as -4°F with Aegis A (air source) or source water temperatures as low as +14°F with Aegis W (water source) with no need for supplemental heat. This makes these heat pump water heaters highly efficient for optimal energy savings and lower operating costs in a variety of new and retrofit commercial facilities.

In fact, Aegis uses about half the electricity compared to a resistive electrical water heater. It has a high Coefficient of Performance (COP) of 3.0 – 5.0 on average year-round. A cool recovery option with the Aegis A, air source heat pump, is available to simultaneously produce cold and hot water to further increase COP.

An advanced defrost cycle with electric coil is available with the Aegis A air source model. This feature eliminates the need for reverse operation to defrost. Aegis W, the water source heat pump water heater, can utilize source water from a cooling plant, resulting in further increased performance of both domestic and cooling systems.

Additionally, remote operation is possible through a building automation system (BAS). Facility managers and other authorized personnel can monitor unit status in real time, record operational data, check for faults, and change set point and operating modes through BAS.

For more information about Aegis heat pump water heaters visit www.rpfedder.com.

R.P. Fedder designs and manufactures custom filters for thousands of engineered products used in industrial and medical applications. The company also distributes a wide range of standardized air and liquid filters, commercial filtration and HVAC equipment.