PHOENIX, Nov. 16 /PRnewswire/ -- The new integrated air-source HP-50 Heat Pump Water Heater from Rheem Water Heating was recently named one of BuildingGreen's Top-10 Products for 2009. Presented during the Greenbuild Expo in Phoenix on November 12, the award recognizes products listed over the past year in BuildingGreen's product directory, GreenSpec®, or covered in Environmental Building News magazine. This past September, Rheem became the first industry manufacturer to announce delivery of a fully integrated, high-efficiency heat pump water heater to both the plumbing wholesale and utility channels. The new HP-50 Heat Pump Water Heater, which meets the qualifications for an ENERGY STAR® listing, offers an Energy Factor (EF) of 2.0, or more than twice the energy efficiency of a standard electric storage water heater. "The average annual operating cost will be between $225 and $280, or roughly half that of even the most efficient standard electric water heaters on the market today," says Rheem product manager Tommy Olsen. The energy-saving design will help a family reduce its carbon footprint by nearly two tons annually. In addition, the HP-50, which has a storage capacity of 50 gallons, qualifies for a federal tax credit as well as many state and utility rebates and incentives. Measuring only 21 inches in diameter and 75.5 inches tall, the HP-50 offers a slimmer, more portable profile that makes installation in spaces with restricted access -- including attics and basement mechanical rooms --easier. "That's why this new unit is an easy retrofit product for existing electric installations," Olsen comments. "If a 240-volt electric service is located nearby, it can replace a gas model as well." BuildingGreen, LLC, is an independent company with a longstanding reputation for publishing accurate, unbiased and timely information for building professionals interested in improving the environmental performance of buildings and surrounding landscapes. GreenSpec, the nation's most comprehensive directory of green building products, includes more than 2,000 listings. The directory does not carry advertising, and manufacturers do not pay for listings. Product selection is based on a careful evaluation of products according to green criteria developed by Environmental Building News editors of over the past 15 years. More than 175 new listings have been added to the directory over the past year. From these, the BuildingGreen staff selected 10 products for special recognition, including the Rheem HP-50 Heat Pump Water Heater, which was ranked sixth. "Our intent with this annual award is to draw national attention to some of the most exciting and innovative new products in the green building field," says Alex Wilson of BuildingGreen and executive editor of GreenSpec. For more information on the Rheem HP-50 Heat Pump Water Heater, please visit http://www.rheemhpwh.com/
