[Shop-talk] heat pump water heaters?

[scott.hall at comcast.net]

it's shop related because it'll live in the garage and potentially cool it somewhat, if the websites are to be believed... 

so I've never even heard of these before, but the water heater at the new house seems to be gone, and I was planning to replace it with solar or tankless, or some combination of solar, tankless, and gas tank to get the endless hot water at the lowest cost. 

googling turns up heat pump water heaters. anybody know anything about them besides the sales pitches on the web? ahve one? 

I live in florida, so the incidental cooling benefit wouldn't be unappreciated. on the other hand, I have the highest electricity rates for 600 miles, and possibly the country outside new york. 

thanks. 

scott