Energy-efficient Water Heating: Strategies For Cost Savings In A Desert Climate – High-efficiency water heaters provide an energy-efficient method of delivering domestic hot water. Figure 1 shows several different types of water heaters, including storage, tankless, heat pump, solar, tankless coil, and indirect water heaters.

Conventional storage water heaters store hot water in a tank, while tankless water heaters only heat water on demand. Heat pump water heaters use electricity to transport heat from one source to another (e.g., air source heat pumps, geothermal heat pumps) rather than providing heat directly to hot water (

Energy-efficient Water Heating: Strategies For Cost Savings In A Desert Climate

).[1] Solar water heaters use heat from the sun and a tankless coil, and indirect water heaters use a building’s heating system to provide domestic hot water (

Installation Process: Hot Water System Installation Made Easy

Typical energy sources for high-efficiency water heaters include natural gas, propane, electricity and solar energy. The availability and cost of any of these sources or combinations of these sources may dictate equipment and system selection, along with other selection criteria, including the home’s hot water requirements, such as usage times, amount of water used , temperature range and flow rates.

Selecting a high-efficiency water heater is part of a whole-home water conservation strategy to reduce indoor water consumption by specifying water-efficient fixtures, equipment, and systems (see Indoor Water Conservation). Work with experienced, knowledgeable residential water heater professionals to navigate the market for available high-efficiency water heaters and find the best water heater model to reliably deliver hot water while saving energy and costs.

The NJ Office of Clean Energy offers the following recommendations for purchasing and installing a water heater for your home.[2]

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Saver 101: Water Heating infographic provides additional information about the different types of water heaters and advice on selecting the right model for your home. Before purchasing a water heater, review the list of Energy Star eligible products and check the New Jersey Office of Clean Energy for rebate requirements, including the minimum Uniform Energy Factor (UEF), which measures energy efficiency of the water heater.

Tankless Water Heaters

High-efficiency water heaters use less energy than a standard water heater, mainly because they take less time to heat water, which in turn translates into fewer carbon emissions and lower utility bills.

High-efficiency water heaters have higher initial costs than standard water heaters, but provide long-term cost savings through reduced energy costs. If different fuel options are available in your area, contact your local utility to compare fuel costs and rates, as average cost savings largely depend on energy costs.[3]

High-efficiency water heaters contribute to resiliency by decreasing energy consumption, including peak loads, which reduces dependence and stress on fuel sources and energy infrastructure. A new study shows that more efficient water heaters can save homeowners money, reduce energy consumption and help reduce carbon. emissions.

When you consider that domestic water heating is responsible for up to 20% of household energy use and that a conventional water heater loses 57% of its energy before the hot water even reaches the shower, bathtub or kitchen faucet, you should ask yourself if there is a better alternative.

Resource Reduction Measures For More Efficient And Sustainable Biopharma Facilities

The Wilden Living Lab is a Kelowna-based research project initiated by the Green Construction Research & Training Centre, a partnership between UBC and Okanagan College. Additional partners are AuthenTech Homes, FortisBC and Wilden, Kelowna’s largest master-planned community. The partners recently conducted a study to evaluate the performance, strengths and weaknesses of energy-efficient water heaters.

The study compared three homes with three different water heating systems. Two of the houses were built and their energy consumption monitored for three years. The third house, designed to eliminate energy waste, is currently under construction.

The first house, Casa de Hoje, has a conventional electric water heater that stores water in an insulated tank. In the second house, called the House of Tomorrow, the water heater uses a heat pump to extract heat from the surrounding air and stores the water in a tank. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a heat pump water heater is two to three times more efficient than a standard electric water heater.

The results for the third home or next generation home being built were modeled after a tankless natural gas water heater that heats water instantly on demand. The U.S. Department of Energy reports that a tankless water heater uses up to 34% less energy than a conventional electric water heater.

How A Heat Pump Works

The table below summarizes the results of the study conducted by the UBC Okanagan School of Engineering. At current utility rates, heat pump water heaters offer substantial cost savings and a relatively short payback period of just 2.6 years. The natural gas tankless heater planned for the next generation home offers slightly greater savings, but will take 4.1 years to pay off the capital investment. These return times are very reasonable, making both options a better economical choice than conventional electric water heaters.

Whether you’re building from scratch or thinking about upgrading your current water heating system, there are a few other considerations to factor into your decision.

Although the cost savings are high for the tankless water heater, it could have a larger operational carbon footprint than an electric storage tank if it ran on conventional gas. Of course, there is the possibility of operating the tankless water heater with renewable, carbon-neutral natural gas. FortisBC has a number of renewable natural gas projects underway to provide plenty of this climate-friendly energy.

Space can also be an issue. A heat pump water heater needs a minimum of 28.3 cubic meters of air space to operate and a controlled ambient temperature of between 4.4 and 32 degrees Celsius. A tankless model, on the other hand, naturally requires much less space.

Energy Saving Tips

The Wilden Living Lab is an unprecedented, ongoing research initiative for sustainable homebuilding. Much more research, insights and results are to come. Subscribe to the Wilden Living Lab newsletter to stay informed.

[6] “Why You Should Consider Switching to a Heat Pump Water Heater,” [Online]. Available: https://waterheaters.com/heat-pump-water-heater-benefits/#:~:text=Heat%20Pump%20Water%20Heaters%20Last, between%2013%20and%2015%20years.. [Accessed at 27 September 2021].

Products and Technologies Home Envelope Space and Water Heating Energy Star Appliances Energy Recovery Power Generation Future Energy ManagementOne third of your utility bill will likely go toward heating your home this year. With energy costs and household budgets rising, we wanted to share some helpful tips on how to keep your home warm in winter without breaking the bank.

Sometimes a small initial investment saves you a lot in the long run. At Applewood, we’ve been helping Colorado families stay warm for nearly 50 years. Put our experience and knowledge to work for your pocket. Here are our seven best energy-saving tips for winter.

Renovation Trends For Real Estate

This may seem obvious, but when you look at the numbers, you can see that the savings increase. Lowering the thermostat by four degrees for eight hours can save 10% on your total heating expenses. Each additional degree can save you another 3%.

Throw that extra blanket on your bed and let the mercury drop while you sleep. Nighttime trips to the bathroom can be a little chilly, but with a programmable thermostat, you can keep the house toasty when you wake up. Turn down the heat while you are at work, on vacation or running errands. Every little bit adds up.

Approximately 30% of your heating energy is lost through windows. Winterizing windows with caulking, caulking and window coverings can result in more savings. Cut the draft along the frames and add another layer of insulation with heavy curtains or blinds. Consider doing an energy audit to see where the biggest energy loss gaps are.

Your HVAC system includes a complex network of ducts that transport warm air to every part of your home. If your ducts are older and have loose connections or holes, your valuable air could be lost to another part of your home. Check ducts for drafts and seal any places where hot air is leaking.

How To Save Energy In Every Room Of Your House

Of all the energy efficiency tips for winter, changing your furnace filter is the easiest. An older, dirty furnace filter restricts airflow and slows hot air from reaching its destination. It can also be a health hazard.

Examine your furnace and find the long, narrow slot where the filter slides into. Simply purchase a replacement filter of the same size from your local hardware store and place it in the wedge. If you need help for the first time, we’re happy to show you how it’s done. Do this every two months or when the filter becomes dirty. You could pay 5% less on your heating bill.

A cozy fireplace is a winter delight, but you may be losing more warm air than you’re gaining. While you feel the heat radiating from a burning fire, that fire also pulls air from your home to burn. Much of this air can be lost through the chimney.

Have your fireplace inspected by a professional to see if it is winter-worthy. Consider installing a gas or wood-burning fireplace with a high-efficiency rating. You can light a fire without seeing your heating bill go up in smoke.

Elements Of An Energy Efficient House

Keeping a tank full of hot water all winter requires a lot of energy. You can reduce this expense by 7 to 11% by transforming

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