I'm not sure whether I like this particular design but the idea is very good aand basic.
It is one of those things that are
- rather orthogonal to the existing system (plumbing)
- helps a bit in each installation
- but cumulates large gains when scaled up over a threshold number of installations.
So far, such ideas for energy consumption haven't typically thriven largely because energy has been cheap but this will probably change. It would be a good idea for the government to subside installation of such devices.
In Finland (and other Nordic countries, I guess, and probably in any country with subzero seasons) we do the same in machinated ventilation systems in homes and buildings. The thermal energy of the warm indoors air (that is exiting the system) is transferred to the air intake where it's used to heat the cold outdoors air (that is entering the system).
It is one of those things that are
- rather orthogonal to the existing system (plumbing) - helps a bit in each installation - but cumulates large gains when scaled up over a threshold number of installations.
So far, such ideas for energy consumption haven't typically thriven largely because energy has been cheap but this will probably change. It would be a good idea for the government to subside installation of such devices.
In Finland (and other Nordic countries, I guess, and probably in any country with subzero seasons) we do the same in machinated ventilation systems in homes and buildings. The thermal energy of the warm indoors air (that is exiting the system) is transferred to the air intake where it's used to heat the cold outdoors air (that is entering the system).