A Boston-based energy company making a smart water heater is hoping its technology can help heat water more efficiently.
Cala Systems said this week it has raised $5.6 million in seed round funding led by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) and Clean Energy Venture Group.
According to CEO and founder Michael Rigney, Cala plans to use the money to complete product development and launch the product, which is on track to launch in the first half of 2025.
Cala says its water heater uses a heat pump, the same technology used in air conditioners and refrigerators, to pump heat out of the surrounding atmosphere and put it into the water to heat it.
Currently, tank water heaters work based on sensors on the tank that determine when the water gets cold and then heat it up. The Cala system can decide when to heat up water based on a consumer's usage habits, time of day, or weather. If a consumer has a solar grid, the system uses its software to heat water when the sun is the strongest, so it can more efficiently use electricity.
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“We learn the hot water usage patterns for every home and that allows us to do a couple of things. The first is that it allows us to keep the water more efficiently when there's an opportunity to do so, and that saves money,” said Rigney.
Cala is working with a team of 10 installers who have signed on with letters of intent to connect customers with knowledgeable professionals who can install Cala’s water heaters.
Water heaters last an average of 10 to 15 years, and once installed, Cala’s method of heating water is three times more efficient than current water heaters. According to Rigney, that efficiency translates to savings for consumers.
“This is the fastest way to decarbonize water heating. And it just so happens that it saves, you know, it saves consumers thousands of dollars along the way,” said Rigney.
