Few homeowners are aware that their hot water heater is your home’s biggest energy consumer after heating and cooling, making it a great area to concentrate on if you want to go green. Here are some tips from HomeAdvisor on how to make sure your heat pump hot water is as green as possible when you turn on the faucet, whether you’re looking to replace that old dino in the pantry with a new, energy-efficient unit or just looking for some green ways to improve the efficiency of the unit you already have.
· The Price Of Eco-Friendly Hot Water Heating
We’ll get to specifics in a moment, but let’s start by talking about the concern that most homeowners have when it comes to green remodelling: cost. How much you ultimately pay on a hot water heater depends heavily on your choices. Installing a brand-new, energy-efficient hot water heating system will cost more up front, but upgrading your existing water heater will save you money in the long run. Upgrading to a new system is likely to pay for itself in a few short years if your current hot water heater is beginning to get a few grey hairs.
· The Real Benefits Of Green Hot Water Heating
Of course, increasing your utility bills is just the beginning of the problem. Johnston is quick to point out that the true worth of becoming green much beyond any estimates that use monetary values. For instance, you can significantly reduce the quantity of greenhouse gases produced into the atmosphere by reducing the amount of electricity you consume at home. When you put it that way, being green with your hot water heater is just as much about leaving your children and grandchildren a better world as it is about you saving a few dollars on your electricity bill—and that’s worth much more than any bottom line.
· Advice For Saving Money On A New Hot Water Heater
What can you do, then, to start hot water heating in a way that is both economical and environmentally friendly? Here are some suggestions to get your brain working.
· A High-Efficiency Water Heater Should Be Purchased—
Efficiency of a water heater, also known as a heater’s energy factor, or EF, is determined by computing the quantity of fuel energy that ultimately leaves the tap as hot water. While high-efficiency electric heaters can achieve EFs of.96 and greater, high-efficiency gas powered water heaters can only achieve EF ratings of.62 or higher. If you want to lower your house energy expenditures, generally speaking, the higher EF rating you can buy, the better.
· Install a sealed combustion water heater.
Sealed combustion water heaters use outdoor air rather than indoor air for combustion. Since they don’t squander warm or cooled inside air during the combustion process, they reduce energy expenses and minimise the threat of dangerous carbon monoxide gas backdrafting into your home.
· Install an electric resistance storage water heater with high efficiency—
Electric resistance water heaters are more effective than fossil fuel-powered ones, easier to install (no venting is needed), and they don’t run the risk of backdrafting. In comparison to alternatives that burn gas or oil, many are also better insulated and maintain standby heat better. But heating water will always be more expensive.
· Install a tankless water heater.
The majority of hot water heaters lose 15% of their energy while the water is sitting in the tank, waiting to be used. This type of energy loss is eliminated by tankless water heaters, which can cut hot water energy costs by up to 20%. Water is heated on demand. Tankless units are even better because they often last five to ten years longer than conventional types, saving you money on replacement costs.
· Place a Heat Pump Water Heater in place—
For more effective water heating, heat pumps transfer heat from the surrounding air into the water. When coupled with an electric resistance water heater, they can cut energy expenses by up to a third to a half.