The Super Efficient Gas Water Heater Appliance Initiative (SEGWHAI)

The Super Efficient Gas Water Heater Appliance Initiative (SEGWHAI) is a program designed to bring a storage gas water heater, which is 30% better than currently available models, to the mass market. The SEGWHAI challenge is to achieve this level of efficiency, while making the unit as well as or better than a conventional storage gas water heater. The proposed SEGWHAI unit must also be installed as a simple, quick replacement for existing small storage water heaters.

The SEGWHAI program will proceed in phases; the first phase is funded by the California Energy Commission (CEC) Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program and involves the participation of the three major California natural gas utilities: Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Gas, and San Diego Gas & Electric. Participation will also be sought from the water heating industry.

The first phase of SEGWHAI will be completed in 2006 and will produce a report, which will provide recommendations for the future development of the program. If the full program is recommended, SEGWHAI will procure funding for a multiple-year effort that will include a prototype competition, an intense marketing campaign, and the establishment of North American incentive programs to induce the demand for SEGWHAI-qualified units.