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Heating water takes one-fifth (20%) of the total energy used in a typical Seattle area household. That makes it the second largest single use behind space heating. Consequently, large energy savings are possible if you pay attention to conserving energy devoted to water heating.
The conservation tips for water heaters listed below are divided into two categories, using less hot water and heating water more efficiently.
Using Less
Consuming fewer resources doesn't have to mean living with inconvenience or suffering some kind of loss of comfort. Intelligent consuming often means both lowering the stress placed on the environment AND improving your own situation.
Install low flow showerheads and faucet aerators.This is an easy and cheap way to get almost automatic savings. For example, a 2.0 gallon per minute showerhead will cut your rate of consumption by a third to a half. For a typical five minute shower that means 10 gallons of hot water used rather than 15–25 gallons. A good efficient showerhead will still give you a great shower. In fact, it might give three or four members of your household a good shower during the morning rush on the bathroom facilities instead of the one and half showers possible with a water guzzler showerhead. Intelligent conservation can make for abundance.
High quality 2.0 gallon per minute showerheads and 1.0 gallon per minute bathroom faucet aerators are available free from Seattle City Light by calling an Energy Advisor at 206.684.3800 or email SCLEnergyAdvisor@seattle.gov.
Take showers rather than baths to get clean. A five minute shower using a 2.0 gallon per minute showerhead uses 10 gallons of water. A typical bath tub holds 60 gallons of water. Take a bath to relax but take a shower to get clean. For a comparison of costs, click here.
Wash clothing in warm water instead of hot or in cold water instead of warm. Most fabrics don't need to be washed in hot or warm water. Most detergents work well in cooler water and cooler water does not set stains. If you're in the market for a new clothes washer, consider buying a
Resource Efficient Clothes Washer
Heating Water More Efficiently
The greatest inefficiency of an electric hot water heater lies in the heat it loses during the time is sits around waiting for us to turn on the hot water tap. For purposes of this discussion, please consider the pipes that carry the hot water from the tank to the tap. This heat loss is commonly referred to as the "standby loss" and minimizing it increases the efficiency of the system. There are two main ways to reduce the standby loss: 1) either increase the insulation between the hot water and the cooler environment or 2) decrease the temperature difference between the hot water and the environment. With that in mind, we offer the following suggestions:
Lower the thermostat on your water heater to 120 degrees Farenheit (130 degrees if you have a dishwasher that doesn't have a temperature booster). At this temperature you save energy and reduce the danger of scalding. Most people consider a hot shower to be about 105 degrees, so you should still have lots of hot water for a good shower or two especially if you’ve installed a 2.0 gpm showerhead. A 52 gallon water heater set at 120 degrees should provide enough hot water to supply four eight minute showers or six five minute showers.
When you go away on vacation, you can turn the thermostat down to the lowest possible setting, or turn the water heater off altogether for additional savings.
When you set back your thermostat, remember to turn off the power to the unit as a first step. Also keep in mind that an electric water heater has two thermostats and you need to reset both.
Insulate Your Existing Water Heater. If your electric water heater was installed before 2004, installing an insulating jacket is one of the most effective do–it–yourself energy–saving projects, especially if your water heater is in an unheated space. The insulating jacket will reduce standby heat loss–heat lost through the walls of the tank–by 25–40%, saving 4–9% on your water heating bills. Water heater insulation jackets are widely available for around $10. Always follow directions carefully when installing an insulation jacket.
How do I determine the age of my hot water heater? You can often learn the age of a water heater by looking at the unit's serial number. The last two digits probably represent the year the tank was manufactured. (e.g. a tank with a serial number: xxxxxxx99 was probably made in 1999).
If your hot water tank is older than 12 years, consider replacing it with an energy efficient model. Look for an Energy Factor of .91 or greater, models with efficiencies for .94 and higher are available. The average life for electric water heaters is about 14 years.
What about tankless or demand water heaters? Gas-fired demand water heaters can offer significant advantages. However, electric demand water heaters tend to save less energy than manufactures claim while placing additional demands on the electric utility. For more information on these devices check out the FAQ's.
What about Heat Pump Water Heaters? Heat Pump Water Heaters can be more than twice as efficient as a standard water heater and are the only electric water heaters that carry the Energy Star label but they aren’t necessarily a one–for–one replacement for a standard electric tank water heater. Heat pump water heaters pull heat out of the air around them, so having them inside your heated space means additional load for your heating system. Heat pump water heaters also make noise, so having them in an acoustically separated location is an asset. For the Northwest, the best location for a heat pump water heater is in an unheated garage.
While they have been on the market for a few years, it’s only recently that they have they been readily available. Seattle City Light is working toward having a program to support heat pump water heaters.
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