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Residential Decarbonization Simplified: Expanding Pearl Edison's Electrical Concierge Service to Include Water Heating

Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
Project Description

Residential water heating is responsible for nearly one-fifth of energy use in the average United States home. Because of that, the type of water heater a household uses can play a meaningful role in monthly utility costs, energy usage, and long-term climate impacts. Heat pump water heaters offer both energy saving and reduced carbon emissions, but adoption remains limited due to high upfront costs, complex rebate structures, and a lack of homeowner knowledge related to the upgrade. This project aimed to support Pearl Edison, a residential electrification concierge service, in expanding its HVAC-based platform to include water heating upgrades. For the purposes of this project, residential is defined as owner-occupied, single-family detached dwellings. This distinction is important, as the term “residential” covers a wide range of building types from a small apartment to a large multi-story home, each carry different constraints and requirements. By scoping to single-family owner-occupied homes, the model focuses on contexts where heat pump water heater selection, rebate eligibility, and installation logistics are most consistent. The main objective was to develop a framework that provides personalized system recommendations that would reduce monthly utility bills, household emissions, and upfront costs. To achieve this, a techno-economic model was created to size systems based on household characteristics such as hot water usage and household occupancy. The model then incorporates different factors such as installation rate cards, utility pricing, and federal and local rebate logic into Pearl Edison’s platform, reducing uncertainty and easing the transition process for both the contractors and homeowners. This approach supports the push to keep homeowners informed during their water heating transition, reducing the barrier many experience when making high-value alterations to their home. Therefore, increasing accessible residential electronification, opening more opportunities for homeowners to adopt higher efficiency appliances, and contributing to lower household emissions.

Year
2025-2026
Project Status
Past Project
Client Organization
Pearl Edison
Students Involved

Rebecca Falash (GDS) 
 

Advisor(s)
Kevin Self
Final Report
Final Report

I'M READY TO APPLYI WANT TO LEARN MORE

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University of Michigan
School for Environment and Sustainability
Dana Building
440 Church Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48109
(734) 764-6453
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