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Honda Unveils All-New Micro-CHP Deluxe Unit

November 25, 2008 by Jeff Shepard

American Honda Motor Company, Inc. is unveiling its all-new Micro-sized Combined Heat and Power (MCHP) Deluxe cogeneration unit. 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 what is described as 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.

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% 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 1.8kW in back up and boost modes; and incorporates sensor technology to enhance engine performance.

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