Heat no longer goes down drain in Habitat for Humanity homes

A technology that recovers heat from waste water in homes is to be fitted in all Habitat for Humanity homes built in 2009. The Power-Pipe “drain water heat recovery” (DWHR) system saves up to 30% energy in domestic water heating by drawing heat from drain water to pre-heat the cold intake water supply. The system can be used with standard water heaters or on-demand systems.

Manufacturer RenewABILITY Energy of Waterloo, Ontario is donating the turnkey systems by an agreement with Habitat for Humanity Canada. 

Hot water heating is reckoned to be the second largest energy user in single and multi-residential buildings in Canada. The system will reduce energy use in those buildings overall by 6-9% and greenhouse gas emissions by about 200 kg/person/year when displacing natural gas water heating.

The Power-Pipe DWHR systems — 250 of them — have also been installed in residences at the University of Waterloo.