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One idea i've had is to just make a central heatpump system. Why does a fridge need its own compressor that vents heat back to the house even in the summer? W

One idea i've had is to just make a central heatpump system. Why does a fridge need its own compressor that vents heat back to the house even in the summer? Why can't your water heater use that same heat instead? This all started because my brother used to redirect dryer air back into his apartment during the winter, using a saw dust sock to keep the lint contained. I started thinking about how heat could be better managed if everything used a central ac/heat pump. heat generated by the fridge, your computer, the ac, etc could be used by your water heater, your heater heater, your dryer. Add heat recovery systems to your dryer, and your drains, and bam super sustainability.

throw0101a 8y ago
There are AC units that do this: pipe the heat to the hot water tank first. * https://www.rheem.com/innovations/innovation_residential/integrated_systems/ https://www.rheem.com/innovations/innovation_residential/int... * https://techcrunch.com/2011/06/12/air-conditioning-water-heater/ https://techcrunch.com/2011/06/12/air-conditioning-water-hea... Once the water tank reaches its max temperature, then heat is dumped outside. The practical problem is that you need to have the different parts work together, and fridge makers don't don't to hot water makers.
- henrikschroder 8y ago
  In the apartment I live in now in Hawaii, the utility closet has the AC unit mounted right above the water heater. They are not connected at all. And this is in a building that is about ten years old. I have no words, it's so fucking stupid.
- MrStonedOne 8y ago
  >The practical problem is that you need to have the different parts work together, and fridge makers don't don't to hot water makers. You don't need a fridge or a hot water heater or an ac or a furnace at that point, because the primary function has been offloaded to the central heat pump. you need heat exchanger attached to water, heat exchangers attached to a cold room, heat exchangers attached to a central air system. You don't have to have the parts work together if the most expensive part of each appliance has been centralized. At that point you've now reduced the appliance to where to put the heat exchanger.

throw0101a 8y ago

There are AC units that do this: pipe the heat to the hot water tank first. * https://www.rheem.com/innovations/innovation_residential/integrated_systems/ https://www.rheem.com/innovations/innovation_residential/int... * https://techcrunch.com/2011/06/12/air-conditioning-water-heater/ https://techcrunch.com/2011/06/12/air-conditioning-water-hea... Once the water tank reaches its max temperature, then heat is dumped outside. The practical problem is that you need to have the different parts work together, and fridge makers don't don't to hot water makers.

henrikschroder 8y ago
In the apartment I live in now in Hawaii, the utility closet has the AC unit mounted right above the water heater. They are not connected at all. And this is in a building that is about ten years old. I have no words, it's so fucking stupid.
MrStonedOne 8y ago
>The practical problem is that you need to have the different parts work together, and fridge makers don't don't to hot water makers. You don't need a fridge or a hot water heater or an ac or a furnace at that point, because the primary function has been offloaded to the central heat pump. you need heat exchanger attached to water, heat exchangers attached to a cold room, heat exchangers attached to a central air system. You don't have to have the parts work together if the most expensive part of each appliance has been centralized. At that point you've now reduced the appliance to where to put the heat exchanger.