INC NEWS - Water Conservation Tips

[Laura Drey]

Water Conservation
 
Red = quotes from one article   Brown = quotes from another article
Underlining = my addition

Water heating is the third largest energy expense in your home.  It
typically accounts for about 13% of your utility bill.  There are four ways
to cut your water heating bills: use less hot water, turn down the
thermostat on your water heater, insulate your water heater, or buy a new,
more efficient water heater.
 
Money-Saving Tips

Tips on lowering your water heater's energy usage:

Install aerators in faucets and low-flow shower heads.  They may reduce your
hot water consumption by half.
 
Take more showers than baths.  Baths use the most hot water in an average
household.  You use 15 to 25 gallons of hot water for a bath and less than
10 gallons for a five-minute shower.
 
Lower the thermostat(s) on your water heater to 120°F.  120°F provides
comfortable hot water for most uses.  Water heaters sometimes come from the
factory with high temperature settings.  Electric water heaters often have
two thermostats, one each for the upper and lower heating elements.  These
should be adjusted to the same temperature to prevent one element from doing
all the work and wearing out prematurely.  If you have an electric water
heater, install a timer that automatically turns the hot water off at night
and on in the morning. A simple timer can pay for itself in less than a
year.

Promtly repair leaky faucets and shower heads.  A leak of one drip per
second can cost $1 per month.  A leaky faucet wastes gallons of water in a
short period of time.

Insulate your natural gas or oil hot-water storage tank, but be careful not
to cover the water heater's top, bottom, thermostat, or burner compartment.
Follow the manufacturer's recommendations; when in doubt, get professional
help. 
 
Insulate the first 6 feet of the hot and cold water pipes connected to the
water heater to prevent heat loss.

Install a heat trap above the water heater. It¹s a simple check valve or
piping arrangement that reduces standby losses by preventing
"thermosyphoning," the tendency of hot water to rise up from the tank into
the pipes. Some new water heaters have built-in heat traps.

Drain a quart of water from your hot water tank every three months to remove
sediment that prevents heat transfer and lowers the efficiency of your
heater.
The type of water tank you have determines the steps to take, so follow the
manufacturer's advice.


Although most water heaters last 10-15 years, it's best to start shopping
for a new one if yours is more than 7 years old. Doing some research before
your heater fails will enable you to select one that most appropriately
meets your needs.
 
If you are in the market for a new dishwasher or clothes washer, consider
buying an efficient, water-saving ENERGY STAR [dishwasher] model to reduce
hot water use. 

$ Long-Term Savings Tip: Buy a new energy-efficient water heater.  While it
may cost more initially than a standard water heater, the energy savings
will continue during the lifetime of the appliance. Look for the EnergyGuide
label.

$ Long-Term Savings Tip: Consider installing a drain water waste heat
recovery system.  A recent DOE study showed energy savings of 25% to about
30% for water heating using such a system.

$ Long-Term Savings Tip: Consider natural-gas on-demand or tankless water
heaters.  Researchers have found savings can be up to 30% compared with a
standard natural-gas storage tank water heater.

$ Long-Term Savings Tip: Heat pump water heaters are very economical in some
areas.
 
$ Long-Term Savings Tip: Visit the Database of State Incentives for
Renewable Energy Web site to see if you might qualify for tax credits or
rebates for buying a solar water heater.²

Solar Water Heaters
If you heat water with electricity, have high electric rates, and have an
unshaded, south-facing location (such as a roof) on your property, consider
installing a solar water heater. The solar units are environmentally
friendly and can now be installed on your roof to blend with the
architecture of your house. More than 1.5 million homes and businesses in
the United States have invested in solar water heating systems, and surveys
indicate over 94% of these customers consider the systems a good investment.
Solar water heating systems are also good for the environment. Solar water
heaters avoid the harmful greenhouse gas emissions associated with
electricity production. During a 20-year period, one solar water heater can
avoid over 50 tons of carbon dioxide emissions. When shopping for a solar
water heater, look for systems certified by the Solar Rating and
Certification Corporation or the Florida Solar Energy Center.

Energy Right: Water Heaters
Water Heaters Why buy an energy-efficient water heater? Water heating is
typically the second-largest energy expense in your home, after space
heating and ...
www.energyright.com/waterheat/moneysaving.htm
<http://www.energyright.com/waterheat/moneysaving.htm>
 
U.S. Department of Energy¹s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
Energy Savers: Water Heating
Long-Term Savings Tip: Buy a new energy-efficient water heater. While it may
cost more initially than a standard water heater, the energy savings will
...
www1.eere.energy.gov/consumer/tips/water_heating.html

Laura


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