Gas and utility bills can fluctuate month to month depending on your AC or heater usage and your hot water usage. With water-heating bills accounting for the average homeowner's second-largest energy bill, learn ways to save energy in your Lawrenceville home. Invest in an energy-efficient water heater, and limit usage where you can.
Select a new water-heating system
Manufacturers have come up with new technology that revolutionizes how the once wasteful, standard storage-tank water heater works. Long gone are the days when energy losses through the tank walls and through the venting systems led to costly wasted heat. Today's water heaters use high-quality insulation around the storage tank to reduce standby losses, and sealed combustion minimizes energy waste through the venting.
Tankless water heaters entirely bypass wasteful standby energy loss by eliminating the storage tank. Instead, whenever you turn on the tap, water flows through the pipes and through the unit's element (either electricity or gas), which heats the water before it passes through the faucet. Tankless systems offer another perk in that they can sometimes last 10 years longer than a conventional system with a storage tank.
Both types of water heaters use the same efficiency rating: Energy Factor (EF). As with most efficiency ratings, the higher the rating, the higher the efficiency. High-efficiency storage units start at 0.6 EF, while tankless units start at 0.82 EF.
Save energy throughout the home
If you're not ready to invest in a new water heater, or even if you are, conserve energy around the home and watch utility bills decrease. Here's what you can do:
- Stop leaks. Small leaks add up, with a single leak dripping once every second costing you $1 per month.
- Install low-flow faucets and showerheads where you can, so that you and your family use less water around the house.
- Apply water-heater insulation around the tank of an older model to stop waste.
- Install an energy-saving appliance the next time you upgrade your washing machine or dishwasher.
- Run full loads of clothing or dishes to maximize hot-water use.
There are lots of ways to save energy when it comes to your household's water consumption. From no-cost tips like running full loads to a larger investment in an energy-efficient water heater, you can eliminate waste, run a green home and get a good return on investment, too.
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