Next month, Small Planet Supply will be hosting a SpacePak webinar with FlowTech’s Zach Liske.  SpacePak is a relatively new product at Small Planet Supply but one that is gaining popularity for customers, installers, and specifiers.  These low-refrigerant systems provide heating, cooling, and hot water in one package, making them an ideal choice for those who want an all-in-one mechanical system. Small Planet Supply currently sell two Spacepak Systems products: the Solstice Inverter Monobloc (SIM) and the Solstice SIS Inverter Split System. 

Before the webinar, we wanted to sit down with Zach Liske, California/Nevada rep for SpacePak and owner of FlowTech, and SpacePak’s Marketing Manager Meagan Harrington to learn about what’s new, what’s coming next for SpacePak and what attendees will hear more about at next month’s webinar.   Here are the highlights from the interview. 

New SpacePak Solstice Inverter Extreme Air-to-Water Heat Pump

SpacePak’s Solstice Inverter Extreme is the latest addition to the Inverter Series line of Solstice Heat Pumps. Like Solstice Inverter Monobloc, the Solstice Inverter Extreme is a monobloc, but designed for colder ambient conditions.  Like other SpacePak systems, the extreme provides hydronic heating, cooling, and domestic hot water.   The system is capable of high-performance heating capacities in outdoor temperatures as low as -22°F and can deliver reliable water temperatures as high as 135°F, making the system ideal for colder climates. Additionally, these units have great application in moderate climates when domestic hot water production is a design goal.  Domestic hot water production requires that higher supply water temperature for efficient heat exchange and elimination of electric resistance boost heat.

New SpacePak model using lower refrigerant is coming soon

SpacePak is rolling out a new heat pump system which uses R32 refrigerant.  The GWP of R-32 is 675, ensuring compliance with policy mandates expected to take effect in 2024.  These R-32 units will be available in markets where low GWP refrigerants are appealing (and/or mandated), including Small Planet Supply’s market area.  The R-32 units have physically larger coils which, when combined with design improvements, yield improved capacities, higher delivered water temps and efficiencies rated in COP. They also work great in colder climates.  These units are expected to be available to customers around the end of the year.

Monobloc systems are available for all (or most) ambient conditions

An advantage of all monobloc systems is that the refrigerant is installed in the unit in the factory.  This reduces the chance of any inadvertent leakage of the refrigerant and makes it easier to find an installer.  With a monobloc system, a standard plumber or a hydronic installer without an HVAC license can install these systems.  Split systems will require an installer with a HVAC license.  

New Spacepak Unit Includes a Smaller Size System, Making it a Better Fit for Airtight Builds

Another new advantage of this product coming up is a smaller size Spacepak system that will be 1-1/2 ton, which may be appealing to Passive House and other high-efficiency builders.  In the past, tightly built houses may have avoided using a Spacepak because it was oversized for the building’s energy load, but the new 1-1/2-ton unit could be a good choice to provide the home’s heating, cooling, and hot water. Zach Liske noted that policies, such as SB9 residential zoning changes in California, allow for smaller units and ADU's on individual residential lots. Policies like these combined with the ever-stringent energy code is resulting in higher efficiency/ low demand structures and thus the need for smaller heat pumps. 

Incentives/Programs Available to Offset System Costs | Progress on IRA Rebate Eligibility

Currently, air-to-water heat pumps are not included in the Inflation Reduction Act’s listed of eligible products.  This could be because there currently is no Energy Star Category for Air-to-Water heat pumps.  However, in 2019, SpacePak’s Solstice Extreme was awarded the Energy Star Emerging Technology Award.  Winning this award helps create a pathway to Energy Star listing. 

In the meantime, local jurisdictions have included SpacePak products for rebates or other incentives.  Local jurisdictions currently offering incentives for SpacePak air-to-water heat pump systems, includes British Columbia (Clean BC), Sonoma Clean Power, Prince Edward Island (Efficiency PEI), Vermont (Efficiency Vermont), Massachusetts (Mass Save) and Minnesota/North Dakota/South Dakota (Otter Tail Corporation).  More jurisdictions may be providing incentives, so be sure to check whether they are available where you build or live.

In addition, there are incentives available through California’s Electric Homes Program.  As state and local programs evolve, there may be other incentives offered for these units.

California Modeling Software CBECC-Res  

Zach Liske shared that recent California modeling software improvements better support air-to-water heat pumps.  It’s now easier to model the air-to-water heat pumps and energy efficiency credits are more accurately tied to the efficiency of the equipment.  He notes that there’s now a big domestic hot water credit if when tying in a combined system with air-to-water and domestic hot water; he estimates it around a 30% credit.

New SSIC Controls

The SpacePak System Interface Control (SSIC) takes inputs from up to five air handlers and sends control signals to the chiller, chiller reversing valve, boiler, and system pump based on installed options. Air Handlers receive their calls from their respective thermostats and output a heating or cooling call to the SSIC. Based on these demands the SSIC determines how to operate the system.  New control features will include the ability to stage multiple units and an added capacity to do an outdoor reset. 

Plenty to Love about SpacePak

Even with all these new products and enhancements, there is still plenty to love about the SpacePak systems we currently carry.  Our September 14 webinar will cover the basics of these two systems as well.  To learn more about the SpacePak systems you can go to our Small Planet Supply SpacePak page.  In addition, a blog post written by Small Planet Supply’s Josh Palmer, “SpacePak Systems: Where Running Hot and Cold is a Good Thing” details the benefits of hydronic systems for heating, cooling, and hot water and why SpacePak is such a great choice for comfortable living.

Hopefully this teaser has piqued your interest and you’ll want to register, which can be done using the button below.

If you’re interest is already piqued and you can’t wait for our September 14 webinar, you can book a complimentary SpacePak consultation by using the button below.  Just remember, our staff won’t have the information on the new systems until after next month’s webinar.