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GE to Provide Water Heaters for Low-income Families in New York Weatherization Program

New York residents have the opportunity to replace inefficient older electric water heaters with new GE GeoSpring(TM) hybrid water heaters through a program sponsored by the New York State Weatherization Directors Association and Federal Department of Energy. (Photo: General Electric)

"We've been looking for alternatives to [the standard] electric water heater," said Andy Stone, executive director for New York State Weatherization Directors Association (NYSWDA), who adds the nonprofit will conduct a pilot program to verify the exact amount of energy the GeoSpring saves in various conditions.

GeoSpring can reduce water heater operating costs up to 62 percent and save $320 per year.* However, given that New York's cost of electricity exceeds the national average, recipients can achieve more savings. GeoSpring uses a heat pump to draw warm air from the surrounding environment as the primary means to heat the water, whereas a standard electric water heater relies solely on electric heating elements.

Weatherization Assistance Programs enable low-income families to permanently reduce their energy bills by making their homes more energy efficient. Federal funds are allocated to states to improve energy performance using the most advanced technology and testing protocols in the housing industry.

"According to the DOE, weatherization recipients see their annual energy bill reduced by $437,** depending on fuel type. By adding GeoSpring to the program, these savings are substantially greater," said Sierra Ashley, market development manager for GE (NYSE:GE).

With a total budget of $394 million and the goal of weatherizing 45,000 homes, the New York Weatherization Assistance Program is the largest residential energy conservation program in the country. GE's GeoSpring has the potential to help thousands of consumers reduce their energy usage in turn lowering their monthly utility bills.

Ease of installation makes GeoSpring a simple retrofit for plumbers

Weatherization Assistance Programs also prefer the GeoSpring's ease of installation. It uses the existing water and electrical connections and occupies the same footprint of a standard 50-gallon tank water heater, making it a simple retrofit for plumbers.

"NYSWDA is optimistic that GeoSpring will be a good product for our program," said Stone, "We're encouraging more and more local agencies to consider installing energy-efficient water heaters."

*Based on DOE test procedure and comparison of a 50-gallon standard electric tank water heater using 4,879 kWh per year versus the GE heat pump water heater using 1,856 kWh per year.

** Source: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/wip/wap.html?print

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GE Appliances & Lighting spans the globe as an industry leader in major appliances, lighting, systems and services for commercial, industrial and residential use. Technology innovation and the company's ecomagination(SM) initiative enable GE Appliances & Lighting to aggressively bring to market products and solutions that help customers meet pressing environmental challenges. General Electric (NYSE: GE), imagination at work, sells products under the Monogram, Profile , GE®, Hotpoint, Reveal and Energy Smart consumer brands, and Tetra®, Vio and Immersion commercial brands. For more information, consumers may visit www.ge.com.

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GE Appliances & Lighting
Allison Gatta, 502-452-7184
Public Relations Product Manager
Allison.Gatta@ge.com