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Water heating is the third largest energy expense in your
home. It typically accounts for about 14% 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, and buy a new, more efficient water
heater. A family of four, each showering for 5 minutes a day,
uses 700 gallons of water a week; this is enough for a 3-year
supply of drinking water for one person. You can cut that amount
in half simply by using low-flow showerheads and faucets.
Water Heating Tips
• Repair leaky faucets promptly; a leaky faucet wastes
gallons of water in a short period.
• Insulate your electric hot-water storage tank and
pipes, but be careful not to cover the thermostat.
• Insulate your gas or oil hot-water storage tank and
pipes, but be careful not to cover the water heater's floor, top,
thermostat, or burner compartment; when in doubt, get
professional help.
• Install aerators in faucets and low-flow showerheads.
• Buy a new water heater with a thick, insulating shell;
while it may cost more initially than one without insulation, the
energy savings will continue during the lifetime of the
appliance.
• 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.
• Lower the thermostat on your water heater; water
heaters sometimes come from the factory with high temperature
settings, but a setting of 115°F provides comfortable hot
water for most uses.
Water Heater
Insulate
your water heater to save energy and money.
• Drain a quart of water from your
water tank every 3 months to remove sediment that impedes 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.
• If you heat with electricity and live in a warm and
sunny climate, 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.
• Take more showers than baths. Bathing uses the most hot
water in the average household. You use 15–25 gallons of hot
water for a bath, but less than 10 gallons during a 5-minute
shower.
Look for the ENERGY STAR® label.
Solar Water Heaters
If you heat with electricity and you have an unshaded,
south-facing location (such as a roof) on your property, consider
installing a solar water heater. More than 1.5 million homes and
businesses in the United States have invested in solar water
heating systems and 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, watch for systems
certified by the Solar Rating and Certification Corporation
(SRCC) or the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC).
Hot Water
Usage (based
on national averages)
The
typical U.S. homeowners' water consumption by place of use.
For more information on how
you can save money on your water heating bill, contact:
American Solar Energy
Society (ASES),
(303) 443-3130
ENERGY STAR®,
(888) STAR-YES (782-7937)
Florida Solar Energy Center
(FSEC),
(407) 638-1010
Owens Corning Customer
Service Hotline,
(800) GET-PINK (438-7465)
Solar Energy Industries
Association (SEIA),
(202) 383-2600
Solar Rating and Certification Corporation (SRCC),
(407)
638-1537
U.S. Department of Energy's
Energy Efficiency and
Renewable Energy Clearinghouse (EREC), (800) DOE-EREC (363-3732),
and Network (EREN).
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