Eco Cute Flash News 2007-11-12

EcoCute market will grow to 1.2 million units / year in 2015

According to a report by Fuji Keizai, the market for CO2 hot water heat pumps will grow by 246% over the next 8 years compared to 2007, reaching 1.23 million sold units in 2015 alone. In 2007, more than 500,000 Eco-Cute units were sold – an increase of 142% from 2006.

CO2 heat pumps would be “breakthrough” for global emissions reductions

At an international workshop held by the International Energy Agency (IEA) in Paris on 8-9 October, Fuminori Horiya from the Heat Pump & Thermal Storage Technology Center of Japan (HPTCJ) held a lecture on the "breakthrough for greenhouse gas reduction" using heat pumps, such as EcoCute units. The HPTCJ proposed to focus on heat pumps during the next G8 Global Warming summit to be held in Toyako, Japan, next year. The Center will now re-enforce efforts to promote EcoCute floor heating systems in Europe.

Daikin to launch 4 new hot water heat pumps

Daikin Industries will commercialize its new EcoCute units on 1st December. According to "Fuji Sankei Business", there will be 4 different models with either a 370L or 460L tank to be used as a “standard” or "cold area" unit. Equipped with an improved heat exchanger and a powerful compressor, the new models will consume 4% less electricity than current models. The water tank is insulated with new materials, which reduce heat loss by 15%. Daikin Industries expects to sell 8,000 units a year.

Hitachi’s Ecocute models feature smallest water tank

According to "Denki Shimbun", Hitachi Appliances will launch two new Eco-Cute models on 21 November which operate efficiently in cold winter climates. The heat pumps feature a new CO2 scroll compressor and a PAM (pulse amplitude modulation) controller. Compared with current models the new product will save a week’s worth of electricity every year. The water tank is, with 415mm, the thinnest currently available and 10% lighter than present models. Hitachi hopes to sell 5,000 units a year.