Provided is a method of signalling energy usage to a user of a hot water outlet of a hot water supply system, the hot water supply system including: a thermal energy store that is supplied with energy from a source of renewable energy; a renewable energy source; an auxiliary water heater coupled to a networked energy supply; a flow transducer operable, when a water flow passes through the hot water outlet, to provide flow rate data for the water flow; and a processor coupled to the flow transducer; the hot water supply system being operable, under the control of the processor, to heat water that is to be supplied to the hot water outlet to a target system supply temperature using a selection of one or more of the auxiliary water heater, the renewable energy source, and energy from the thermal energy store.

An installation includes an in-building hot water supply system, a hot water heat pump, an energy storage arrangement containing a mass of phase change material and a heat exchanger coupled between the hot water system and the heat pump, and a processor to provide a signal to the heat pump based on the opening of an outlet of the hot water supply system. The mass of phase change material has enough latent heat capacity to heat to a predetermined temperature a predetermined quantity of water in the interval from the opening of an outlet of the hot water supply system until at least the heat pump begins to heat water in the hot water supply system. Also provided is a method of controlling a heat pump in such an installation.

Provided is a method of controlling a supply of heated water from a source including a heating appliance (301) to a plurality of water outlets (302, 303) remote from the heating appliance, the method comprising: detecting a demand for water from a first water outlet (302), identifying the demand as likely to be associated with the first water outlet (302) and setting to a first target water temperature value, associated with the first outlet, a target water temperature for the temperature at which water is supplied; detecting a demand for water from a second water outlet (303), identifying the demand as likely to be associated with the second water outlet, and resetting to a second target water temperature value, associated with the second outlet, the target water temperature at which water is supplied; wherein the demand is associated with an outlet based on a detected flow characteristic. Also provided is a hot-water supply installation having a plurality of controllable outlets, the installation including: a source of hot-water with an outlet having a controllable outflow temperature; a flow measurement device to provide data on water flow between the source and the plurality of controllable outlets; a temperature sensor to detect the outflow temperature; a memory storing parameters linking flow data to outlet identity, and associating each of the plurality of controllable outlets with a respective target temperature; a processor operatively connected to the memory, the flow measurement device, and the first temperature sensor; the processor being configured: in the event that one of the plurality of controllable outlets is opened, to determine based on a detected flow characteristic which of the plurality of controllable outlets has been opened, and then based on that determination to control the outflow temperature of the source, in accordance with stored parameters for the determined one of the controllable outlets; and in the event that another of the plurality of controllable outlets is opened, to determine which another of the plurality of controllable outlets has been opened, and then based on that determination to control the outflow temperature of the source, in accordance with stored parameters for the determined another of the controllable outlets.

Provided is a heating installation including an energy store including a latent heat energy storage medium, and a heat pump having a defrost cycle, the heating installation including a hot water supply system arranged to supply instantaneous heated water and space heating to a building, and a processor to control the installation. The processor being configured to: control the supply of heat from the heat pump to the latent heat energy storage medium to store heat for heating water and to a heating circuit for providing space heating; and estimate a likelihood of a defrost cycle by the heat pump. In anticipation of an impending defrost cycle, the processor further being configured to control operation of the installation to store additional energy by at least one of: heating the latent heat energy storage medium to a higher level than a level set for anticipated water heating demand alone and/or heating the building and/or circulating heating fluid of the installation to a higher level than a level set for desired building heating; to compensate for an absence of heat from the heat pump during the impending defrost cycle.

A computer-implemented method predictively prepares a water provision system installed in a building. The water provision system includes a heat pump configured to transfer thermal energy from the surrounding to a thermal energy storage medium and a control module configured to control operation of the heat pump. The water provision system is configured to provide water heated by the thermal energy storage medium to an occupant of the building at one or more water outlets. The method is performed by the control module and includes: receiving a current location of the occupant, estimating an expected arrival time for the occupant to arrive at the building based on the current location, and determining an expected occupancy of the building based on the expected arrival time.

A modular HVAC-SHW/DHW system that provides comfort conditioning, sanitary hot water, and ventilation in the buildings is disclosed. The system includes HVAC units, SHW/DHW units, and one or more air-to-water heat pump (AWHP) units fluidically connected to the HVAC units and the SHW/DHW units through at least one water-to-water heat pump (WWHPs). The AWHP units are configured to enable the exchange of heat between the environment and the WWHPs, and the WWHP is configured to enable the exchange of rejected heat between any of the AWHP units, the HVAC units, and the SHW/DHW units. The system is designed in a packaged form factor or modular design, where the components/units of the system are configured within a housing that is easily installable at the desired locations in the building.

Apparatus and methods for a gas furnace are disclosed. The gas furnace includes a variable combustion control which monitors the temperature of the burner and modifies one of the amount of combustion air supplied and the amount of gas fuel supplied to the mixing chamber. The described systems can dynamically accommodate differences in air quality and gas fuel supply to provide an optimum BTU output irrespective of differences in geographic location of usage. The gas furnace can include a dynamic response unit which predicts an optimum rate of heating to maintain a target room temperature, thereby preventing unnecessary shut down and costly re-ignition sequences, and maintaining the gas furnace at an optimum BTU output level.

Apparatus and methods for a gas furnace are disclosed. The gas furnace includes a variable combustion control which monitors the temperature of the burner and modifies one of the amount of combustion air supplied and the amount of gas fuel supplied to the mixing chamber. The described systems can dynamically accommodate differences in air quality and gas fuel supply to provide an optimum BTU output irrespective of differences in geographic location of usage. The gas furnace can include a dynamic response unit which predicts an optimum rate of heating to maintain a target room temperature, thereby preventing unnecessary shut down and costly re-ignition sequences, and maintaining the gas furnace at an optimum BTU output level.

One example embodiment relates to a water heater controller. The water heater controller includes an operating conditions circuit structured to receive temperature measurement signals indicative of temperatures over time of water in a tank of a water heater, and occupancy measurement signals indicative of whether individuals are present in an area proximate the water heater. A drift threshold circuit is structured to, in response to the occupancy measurement signals indicating that an individual is present or not present, define a plurality of drift threshold levels to trigger operation of a heating element of the water heater. A control circuit is structured to controllably operate the heating element based on the occupancy measurement signals and on the plurality of drift threshold levels.

Provided is a faucet device for an aircraft lavatory unit, wherein a second joint and a third joint are joined by inserting the third joint of a heater module into a second joint of a valve module, and screw members are used to fasten a first case and a second case. As a result, the valve module and the heater module are joined in series via the second joint and the third joint. A first connector of a controller module is joined to a third connector of the valve module and a second connector of the controller module is joined to a fourth connector of the heater module. The first joint of the valve module is joined to a water supply pipe. A fourth joint of the heater module and a faucet main body are joined via a pipe.