Advanced Water Heating Specification

Find the electric and natural gas advanced water heating specifications and accompanying qualified products lists below.

Advancing the market for heat pump water heaters

Utilities, energy efficiency organizations and market partners developed the Advanced Water Heating Specification (AWHS) to advance higher performing electric and gas heat pump water heaters. While this specification is rooted in ensuring performance in cooler northern climates, its applicability and benefits extend well beyond the Northwest. The specification also enhances the end goals of NEEA's water heating programs - to influence the passage of federal standards requiring heat pump levels of performance for both gas and electric storage water heaters.

AWHS v8.1

The Advanced Water Heating Specification v8.1 is effective as of July 15, 2024.

View AWHS v8.1
The current version of the AWHS is version 8.1. Additional resources such as qualified products lists (QPLs) are available in the listed resources below.
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Electric Advanced Water Heating Specification
Version 8.1

This document succeeds NEEA’s previous Advanced Water Heating Specification (AWHS Version 8.0). This version includes substantial updates to Chapters 2 and 3. For residential water heaters, demand response requirements are met through OpenADR Alliance’s EcoPort certification, split-systems are qualifiable for interior and/or exterior applications, and Plug-ins will be evaluated with the same requirement as other residential water heaters. For commercial/multifamily systems, AWHS v8.1 streamlines listing of commercial HPWHs (CHPWH) and creates a pathway for integrated CHPWHs.

View Document
Residential Heat Pump Water Heaters
Qualified Product List

The Residential HPWH QPL contains information on Residential HPWH products that meet the Advanced Water Heating Specification requirements. These products are found in Single Family or low rise multifamily (in residential dwelling units).

View the QPL
Commercial Heat Pump Water Heaters
Qualified Product List

The Commercial/Multifamily HPWH Systems QPL contains information on Commercial and Multifamily products that meet the Advanced Water Heating Specification requirements. These products generally serve more than four dwelling units or a commercial load (as defined in the specification). Products can be integrated or split systems.

View the QPL
 

Additional Resources

Visit HotWaterSolutionsNW

Hot Water Solutions is an initiative of the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) working to accelerate the adoption of heat pump water heaters in the Northwest by providing resources, tools and support to increase sales and installations of heat pump water heaters.

View the Hot Water Solutions website