Jerry Callahan from ISI Technology has developed a tankless electric water heater that changes the way the heat is transferred to the water.
The Heatworks Model 1 Kickstarter campaign claims that it can save up to ten percent of your water use and up to forty percent of water heating costs. Jerry tells us that tankless heaters save power because water is only heated when hot water is needed. The problem with current technology is that performance is unreliable and the model selection isn't standardized.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1132758406/heatworks-model-1-your-next-water-heater
Current tankless technology heats the water fast at temperatures over one thousand degrees. Because of the high temperature the minerals in the water plate themselves to the resistance heating element, causing the heating elements to fail quickly. Heatworks uses a graphite electrode that transfers the energy directly to the water as it flows through the unit.
Flow switches and relays were also removed from the conventional tankless design and replaced with a microcontroller to manage the temperature control. The system claims to be ninety nine percent efficient, has already passed UL standards for safety testing, and controls temperature up to 130 F in one degree increments. Temperature sensors give data sixty times per second to control the temperature at all times instead of competitor units that can only be on or off.
The Heatworks Model 1 Kickstarter campaign is slick and well done. The product is obviously well researched and designed, but the versatility might be its best seller. Through the product's website and also the Kickstarter page consumers are walked through different needs for existing homes or new construction.
Based on usage statistics users can decide if more than one unit is needed and estimate their energy and water savings per year. Several different configurations are explored on the Kickstarter page. Advice is also given on wiring into existing construction and new builds, voltage and outlet requirements, hard or soft water, and well systems.
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1132758406/heatworks-model-1-your-next-water-heater