09.29.2015
Award/Winning Japan
Rinnai scores Good Design Award in 2015 Third-generation ECO ONE hybrid water heater with heating system
Rinnai Corporation, a comprehensive manufacturer of heat-energy appliances that support comfortable lifestyles through heating, was honored again at the 2015 Good Design Awards sponsored by the Japan Institute of Design Promotion. This marks the 42nd award that Rinnai has won over nine consecutive years since 2007.
ECO ONE is a residential-use, hybrid water heater with heating system that combines an electric heat pump, which draws heat from the air, and the high-performance Eco Jozu gas water heater, which facilitates instantaneous, hot water supply. The third-generation model, launched in April 2015, boasts energy savings at the industry’s top level and a refined external design. Visually, the champagne metallic finish on the heat pump and gas heater complements various home exteriors, and placement-wise, the system layout adjusts flexibly to available space.
■Designer’s Comments
Giving “shape” to a system is quite a challenge. A design must be well matched to existing products to support the daily routine without causing a change in lifestyle, and this model has a simple silhouette, free of embellishments and exudes understated elegance. There are no unnecessary curves, and the champagne metallic finish reflects current housing trends, making this compact system—slightly smaller than predecessor models—more appealing from a style perspective.
■Comments from the Good Design Award judging committee
Hybrid systems use electricity and gas. As with air-conditioners, like it or not, the key components sit prominently outside a home to make life comfortable for the people inside. Performance is supported by sophisticated technology, and while each year brings progress, such advances have not yielded much in the way of beautiful design, without sacrificing some aspect of performance or capacity. Against this backdrop, Rinnai made obvious efforts to address the design conundrum and came up with a reliable, smart-looking system that offers flexibility in layout as well.
Rinnai will maintain its focus on the three themes—heat and lifestyles, quality, and contributing to local communities—that infuse the Rinnai Spirit and will strive to capture more awards as a comprehensive heat-energy appliance manufacturer working to reduce consumption of resources and save energy.