Water heating is the second-largest energy use in American homes, and most water heaters still run on decades-old technology. Luke Winston-Almanzar, co-founder and CEO of Reservoir, walks Ed and Eric through the heat pump water heater install problems contractors already know, how predictive controls make recirculation work with a heat pump, and why he thinks 80-gallon tanks are over-recommended. The surprise: Luke found he was using more energy to heat his water than to drive his electric car.
Expect to Learn
- Why water heating is one of the largest and most overlooked energy uses in the home.
- What goes wrong on heat pump water heater installs, and which problems can be solved at the factory.
- How predictive controls make recirculation work with a heat pump water heater.
- Why Luke thinks 80-gallon tanks are over-recommended, and why first-hour rating matters more than tank size.
- How Reservoir's Party Mode works, and why Luke says it isn't the efficient setting.
- How Reservoir is working with HVAC and plumbing contractors.
Timestamps
[00:00] - Episode Preview
[02:24] - Introduction to Luke Winston-Almanzar and Reservoir
[04:06] - Luke's background and the personal story behind his interest in hot water
[07:53] - Why Luke chose water heating as a major climate and energy opportunity
[11:14] - Competing with established manufacturers and building the founding team
[14:43] - Reservoir's product thesis and the role of predictive intelligence
[18:39] - How Party Mode delivers more hot water from a smaller tank
[22:53] - Built-in recirculation, remote control faucets, and Legionella protection
[25:58] - How Reservoir simplifies installation for contractors
[31:37] - Replacing larger tanks and competing with tankless gas systems
[35:35] - Reliability, serviceability, testing, and product support
[37:38] - Reservoir's growth, funding, team, and early market expansion
[40:04] - How Reservoir decides where to focus its innovation
[43:37] - Contractor partnerships and the future of Reservoir
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Heat pump contractors in Colorado: Ed and Eric are teaching a one-day heat pump training with Power Ahead Colorado on November 5 at the Edgewater Civic Center in Edgewater, CO. Check-in is at 7:30 a.m., and sessions run 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Attendees get a year of Amply and a new 11" iPad Pro. Registration is $4,000, paid up front and reimbursed in full by Power Ahead Colorado after you attend, as long as you're registered with the Colorado Contractor Hub. 50 seats, two per company, no refunds. Registration closes October 14.
Register 👉 https://bit.ly/4jGTihR
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