Honda Introduces All-New Micro-CHP Deluxe Unit

Revolutionary Home HVAC System Reduces Energy Costs, Fuel Consumption and Greenhouse Gas Emissions While Providing Back-up Power

American Honda Motor Company, Inc. introduced its all-new Micro-sized Combined Heat and Power (MCHP) Deluxe cogeneration unit today at the U.S. Green Building Council’s Greenbuild International Conference and Expo 2008 in Boston, Massachusetts.

The Honda MCHP, introduced in Japan in 2003 and in the US in 2007, is a heat transfer and power generation device that provides home heating or water heating as well as electrical power for a variety of home applications. The new Honda MCHP Deluxe system features advanced, highly-efficient energy management technologies for home heating and power combined with a new automatic back-up power feature (a residential stand-by generator) that can provide back-up electricity in the event of a power failure.

When the Honda MCHP Deluxe module is paired with a furnace system such as the ECR International freewatt™, the total system provides heat for the home with the added benefit of electricity production. ECR is a full-service provider of American engineered-and-manufactured hydronic and forced air products, recognized worldwide for its innovation, quality, performance and reliability.

Honda MCHP: Features and Benefits

The freewatt™ system produces electric power as a byproduct of its heating function. In the freewatt™ application, the Honda MCHP module has provided as much as 75 percent of a home’s heating demand plus enough electricity to power lights, small appliances and security systems. The electric power produced by the system displaces electricity that consumers would otherwise purchase from the local electric utilities, helping homeowners save $500 to $1,000 per year on their electric bills.

MCHP owners also can utilize net metering to realize an additional, unique financial benefit of using the freewatt™ system. In states where this energy policy is legislated, homeowners can sell unused electric power generated by the MCHP to the public utilities in their communities, providing savings on electricity costs.

The new Honda MCHP Deluxe system incorporates a battery-back up system that includes a long-life, five-year nickel metal hydride battery for dependable starts in back-up power mode during utility power outages. The MCHP system also includes a Honda residential stand-by generator that provides back-up electricity in the event of a power failure. The generator:

* Operates on natural gas or propane;
* Features a DC/DC converter that detects utility power outages and provides maximum power output of 1.8 kilowatts in back up and boost modes;
* Incorporates sensor technology to enhance engine performance.

The ultra-quiet MCHP Deluxe unit produces 3.26 kilowatts of heat and a maximum of 1.8 kilowatts of electric power, an improvement over Honda’s Standard MCHP system that produces a maximum of 1.2 kilowatts of power. Both models allow homeowners to reduce their utility bills and curb carbon dioxide emissions while improving overall energy efficiency and comfort.

In relation to energy costs, test data has shown that when a Honda MCHP system is paired with a product such as ECR’s freewatt™ to replace a typical 80 percent efficiency home heating system, homeowners can realize an average of 30 percent in energy cost savings.

In addition, the system produces 30 percent less carbon dioxide to produce a given amount of heat and electricity than a conventional heating system with electricity provided from the local utility company. This allows homeowners to take an active role in the effort to reduce greenhouse gases.

Finally, the system produces more uniform temperatures in the home without running noisy blowers at high speeds. The result is a constant and extremely quiet circulation of heated air ― enhancing at-home comfort.

“Across all markets in which we sell products, the Honda mission is to bring advanced, innovative and environmentally responsible products to our customers,” said Steve Bailey, vice president of power equipment for American Honda. “The Honda MCHP systems fulfill this mission by helping homeowners save energy, reduce greenhouse gasses and save money on their home heating while enjoying the high level of comfort and performance they have come to expect.”

Honda MCHP: Operational Footprint

The basic MCHP operation is based on early large, expensive Combined Heat & Power (CHP) technology systems designed for commercial and industrial applications. In the MCHP and MCHP Deluxe, Honda has scaled down the original footprint and refined the technology for smaller applications such as single-family residences.

The Honda MCHP Deluxe units will be sold in the United States only and will be marketed via Honda’s Power Equipment Division in Alpharetta, Georgia. More than 60,000 MCHP units have been sold globally since its introduction in 2003.

Honda is the world’s preeminent manufacturer of engines for automobiles, motorcycles and power equipment, selling more than 24 million units globally in 2007. Honda engines are characterized by the same clean, quiet, fuel-efficient technology that is the cornerstone of the company’s unrivaled reputation for durability, reliability and quality.