Architects & Engineers
Simplified Designs for Seamless Installation
Engineering Made Easy
Origin by Steffes is a completely packaged, plug-and-play product ready to drop-in to your multi-family complex project. We know how important it is to be able to design, install, commission, operate, and optimize a centralized water heating system, so we did the engineering work for you!
We designed integrated, packaged systems for seamless installation, significantly reducing the complexities of job site coordination and connection efforts, while minimizing risks for the installing contractor.
Our durable systems have a design life of 20+ years in all geographies, including cold climates, and are pre-sized for 75, 100, or 150 units. They can be combined to accommodate larger complexes.
Integrated Solution
Origin’s packaged system design, includes storage tanks, swing tanks, and expansion tanks with a building interface section containing water pumps, heat exchanger, valves, and controls.
Units are modularized into three sections:
- Heat Pump Interface: contains piping connections to remote heat pump water heater(s) and isolation heat exchanger
- Tank Storage: contains storage tanks, swing tank, and expansion tank
- Building Interface: contains water pumps, mixing valve, and controls panel
Dimensions: 7.5 ft wide x 9.5 ft high and 14, 16, or 20 ft long (length depends upon number of storage tanks)
Plug & Play
Origin arrives on your job site ready to go. All pipes between Origin devices are connected and the system is ready to be filled with water. All electrical devices are factory wired and tested and the system is ready to be energized and run.
No more receiving and keeping track of multiple pieces of equipment, setting large tanks, and getting electrical wires pulled and connected to pumps and heaters. Just hook up the water lines to the building, the heat pump, and electrical power and you are ready to start delivering hot water.
Features:
- All-electric and energy efficient
- Removable panels for system access
- Up to 1,500 gallons of water storage
- Control packages with installed sensors
- Suited for new construction or retrofit projects
- Isolation heat exchanger to protect remotely installed heat pump(s)
- Demand management ready with CTA 2045 communications protocol
- Building recirculation system with hot water return pump and system digital mixing valve
- Expansion tank and swing tank for off-hours temperature maintenance and system backup
Friendly. Flexible. Compatible.
Heat Pump Flexible
Origin can be paired with multiple different heat pump manufacturers’ products, allowing you to select the right heat pump engine for your particular conditions and reducing the often-difficult coordination efforts between the heat pump and the rest of the building. Origin handles the hot water storage and circulation throughout the building, leaving the heat pump to focus on generating hot water.
AWHI Compatible
Origin conforms to the Advanced Water Heating Initiative (AWHI) specification, and product designs are repeatable, so you will not need to develop a distinct design every time you implement heat pump water heating on a job.
Grid Friendly
Central heat pump water heaters, like Origin, can act as giant thermal batteries. They do this by using energy to heat water during times of low grid demand and storing it for later use, enabling them to limit their energy use during peak times for the electricity grid.
Ongoing Projects & Initiatives
Why Origin over a Distributed System?
Heat pump water heaters for domestic hot water are more efficient but can be more costly. The total installed cost of a distributed system with a 40 gal electric or gas water heater installed in each apartment can reach more than $1,200 per apartment. And, the typical design life of these units is 15 years, driving owners to plan to replace these units as early as year 10.
Seattle Pilot Shows Reduced Emissions
Central heat pump water heaters (CHPWHs) present a tremendous opportunity to reduce the substantial energy used in water heating and can act as giant thermal batteries. They do this by using energy to heat water during times of low grid demand and storing it for later use, enabling them to limit their energy use during peak times for the electricity grid.