Examining sustainability and digital transformation with Rheem’s Rodrigo Cedeno and Chris Day
In this special conversation, Engineered Systems NEWS sits down with Rodrigo Cedeno, director of global sustainability, and Chris Day, vice president of product strategy, marketing and training at Rheem Manufacturing Company. Together, they discuss Rheem’s latest advances in heat pump technology, digitalization, and their vision for a more sustainable future in HVAC and water heating.
Rodrigo Cedeno: Rheem’s advancements in heat pump technology, across both air and water, are key to realizing our goals in greenhouse gas reduction. This transformation comes not only from our landmark residential heat pump water heaters, but the wide array of solutions we offer. These range from dual fuel systems in heating and cooling to heat pump pool heaters, and from our largest commercial heat pump water heaters and air systems to our smaller VRF and mini split systems.
With recent advances in heat pump technology, what barriers to wider adoption do you still see in the North American residential and commercial markets?
Rodrigo Cedeno: One of the barriers we are working on is education. Heat pump water heaters are an excellent solution for end-users and a great product for plumbing contractors to add to their portfolio. The education starts with awareness and then understanding the product to ensure plumbing contractors feel comfortable offering it to their customers. Rheem has more than 20 Innovation Learning Centers (ILCs), which are advanced learning hubs designed to offer immersive, hands-on experiences. We provide training programs to help increase understanding of regulatory changes for heat pump water heaters as part of our compliance and sustainability initiatives. We are training our trade partners with the knowledge needed to install new technologies, like heat pumps, and to equip them with the skills to confidently explain to home and business owners how these products work and the benefits they can provide.
Across your product lines, how do you balance the push for sustainability with the need for affordability and reliability for both homeowners and commercial clients?
Rodrigo Cedeno: Our customer is our top priority, which is why we continue to innovate and evolve our products for reliability and ease of installation. We have enhanced components on our products that add value by reducing installation costs and service visits. This is a win-win for both the trade and consumer, as we understand we must have the best product hands down to be able to actualize these sustainability factors. Reliability, efficiency, and sustainability go hand in hand to be the best value for consumers and a product the trade can trust. Focusing on the overall cost of ownership through utility cost reduction and durability guides our pursuit of innovating higher efficiency products that are affordable for our customers.
The EcoNet platform and the upcoming TotalView digital tools promise greater connectivity and data. How do you see digitalization changing the way HVAC and water heating products are serviced, optimized, and even sold?
Chris Day: The HVAC and water heating sectors are experiencing the same digital transformation already reshaping other industries, and its impact on system performance and grid interaction is accelerating. Digitalization is enabling more precise comfort control, cleaner energy utilization, improved operational efficiency, and longer equipment lifespans. Connected systems also support grid stability by giving energy providers better tools to manage demand, reduce waste, and mitigate peak load challenges. Because space conditioning and water heating represent 40% or more of a home’s total energy use, applying data-driven optimization to equipment operation offers measurable energy savings potential for end users.
Some new products, like the RD18AY and RP17AY heat pumps, emphasize variable-speed compressors and refrigerant reductions. Can you share more about the R&D process that led to these features, and what’s next in terms of efficiency gains? Chris Day: Innovation around products like the RD18AY and RP17AY is the result of an R&D strategy focused on advancing efficiency, sustainability, connectivity, and workforce readiness, while keeping pace with rapidly evolving industry standards. As energy regulations continue to tighten, including the DOE’s updated SEER2 standards and forthcoming shifts in heat pump water heating technologies, our team at Rheem is proactively engineering solutions that comply and lead. Rheem has long been a trailblazer
Boykin Air 