Recover heat from hot water and save!

This program is aimed at encouraging the purchase and installation of drain water heat recovery units¹ in order to reduce the energy consumed for water heating.

Financial assistance from the Energy Efficiency Fund (EEF)

• $1.00 per cubic metre of natural gas saved;
• Maximum assistance of $100,000, up to a limit of 50% of the cost of the project.

How does a drain water heat recovery unit work? Water from showers or hot water processes contains a significant amount of energy that goes directly down the drain. Installing a drain water heat recovery system means you can recycle some of that energy. Wastewater from the shower flows down the inner wall of the copper pipe and preheats the fresh water from the water supply system which is simultaneously ascending through the coiled copper tubes. The preheated fresh water will therefore be warmer when it enters the water heater, and subsequently when it is sent to the shower.

How the drain water heat recovery system works

Advantages

• The water heater uses less energy for heating water to the desired temperature;
• The water heater supplies hot water longer;
• The system requires no maintenance end has a service life of 30-50 years.

In what types of building should it be installed?

Owners of buildings where mostly showers are taken or buildings whose water heater has difficulty meeting the demand of users will find it advantageous to install such a system.

Types of buildings

Multi-unit residential buildings

Colleges and universities

Schools

Hospitals

Care centres

Prisons

Sports centres

Arenas

Restaurants

From what uses can drain water heat be recovered?

Heat may be recovered from all uses where liquid thermal energy is employed:

Types of use

Showering

Washing clothes, dishes, rooms and equipment

Purging boilers

Sterilizing

Precooling

Installation

Installation makes use of simple connectors which may be supplied by the product manufacturer.².

Are you eligible for this program?

Eligible are Gaz Métro customers who own or rent commercial, industrial, institutional or multi-unit buildings with four or more units with a natural gas water heater, with the exception of customers subject to Tariffs 4 and 5.

Steps to follow:

You have up to 2 months following the installation of your drain water heat recovery system to submit a request for financial assistance.

	Contact us We will refer you to a manufacturer who will give you a project evaluation as well as a proposal.
	Send us: The Drain Water Heat Recovery System Form (PDF | 797 ko); The proposal, including the energy savings estimated by the manufacturer.
	Once the installation is completed, send us, by mail or fax: A copy of the bill(s) for the purchase of the heat recovery units; Your request for financial assistance in the form of a bill. Consult the explanations in the document Example of Request for Financial Assistance (PDF | 894 ko)

1	Financial assistance is available only for equipment meeting the requirements established by the EEF. The units currently recognized appear on this page according to their efficiency under the title Energy Efficiency Fund financial assistance. Contact the EEF for further details regarding the units currently recognized.
2	In some cases, the installation of a drain water heat recovery unit could result in a loss of pressure. Contact a manufacturer to learn more. Program subject to change without prior notice.