# Decarbonizing Water Heating with Intelligent Water Heaters: Insights from Michael Rigney of Cala Systems

- Show: [Hardware to Save a Planet](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet)
- Published: 2024-10-10
- Length: 48m
- Episode: 63
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-10-10-decarbonizing-water-heating-with-intelligent-water-heaters-insights-from-michael
- Listen: https://podcasts.fame.so/e/28x0zx98-decarbonizing-water-heating-with-intelligent-water-heaters-michael-rigney

## Summary

Michael Rigney, CEO and co-founder of Cala Systems, explains how his company is decarbonizing residential water heating through an intelligent heat pump water heater that uses predictive control to shift energy load. Rigney details the hardware architecture, including a variable speed compressor and a mixing valve, and the software logic using Model Predictive Control (MPC) to optimize for comfort, cost, and grid interaction. He discusses the challenges of entering a market dominated by incumbents, the unit economics for consumers replacing electric resistance or oil heaters, and the path to commercialization with a first product launch in 2025.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-10-10-decarbonizing-water-heating-with-intelligent-water-heaters-insights-from-michael#t=0) Introduction and Guest Background
- [5:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-10-10-decarbonizing-water-heating-with-intelligent-water-heaters-insights-from-michael#t=354) Origin Story and Market Opportunity
- [11:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-10-10-decarbonizing-water-heating-with-intelligent-water-heaters-insights-from-michael#t=679) Grid Value and Load Shifting Physics
- [17:02](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-10-10-decarbonizing-water-heating-with-intelligent-water-heaters-insights-from-michael#t=1022) Thermal vs. Battery Storage Efficiency
- [19:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-10-10-decarbonizing-water-heating-with-intelligent-water-heaters-insights-from-michael#t=1184) Hardware Architecture and Sensors
- [19:44](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-10-10-decarbonizing-water-heating-with-intelligent-water-heaters-insights-from-michael#t=1184) Predictive Control Algorithm (MPC)
- [32:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-10-10-decarbonizing-water-heating-with-intelligent-water-heaters-insights-from-michael#t=1968) Incumbent Inertia and Startup Strategy
- [36:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-10-10-decarbonizing-water-heating-with-intelligent-water-heaters-insights-from-michael#t=2186) Distribution, Pricing, and Payback
- [40:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-10-10-decarbonizing-water-heating-with-intelligent-water-heaters-insights-from-michael#t=2414) Virtual Power Plants and Policy
- [41:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hardware-to-save-a-planet/2024-10-10-decarbonizing-water-heating-with-intelligent-water-heaters-insights-from-michael#t=2510) Future Vision and Closing Advice

## Topics

- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Cala Systems (company)
- Enternock (company)
- Uplight (company)
- GE Wind (company)
- National Renewable Energy Lab (company)
- Tesla Powerwall (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Frontier Forum: Unlocking next-generation VPPs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-05-06-frontier-forum-unlocking-next-generation-vpps) (Catalyst)
- [Unleashing the magic of heat pumps](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2022-11-10-unleashing-the-magic-of-heat-pumps) (Catalyst)
- [Professional Scooter Charger](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2022-10-24-professional-scooter-charger) (The Amp Hour)
- [Andrei Klochko: Reversible Heat Pumps, Decarbonization, and Earth vs Mars | Hard Tech Podcast #6](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hard-tech-podcast/2023-06-14-andrei-klochko-reversible-heat-pumps-decarbonization-and-earth-vs-mars-hard-tech) (Hard Tech Podcast)
- [The story of steam](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/catalyst/2025-06-19-the-story-of-steam) (Catalyst)

## Citing this page

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