Energy Efficient Water Heater

Energy Sense: Homeowners should think about increasing energy efficiency

Barbara Weindling didn’t understand why her electric bill was so high. It was the dead of winter and she was using a lot of heat to warm her roughly 4,000-square-foot Providence home, using forced hot air. It never seemed to be enough. She studied the kilowatt usages on her bill and didn’t like what she saw. So Weindling called her local public utility, National Grid, who grilled her with a lot questions about how she uses her energy.

“Well, we replaced our air conditioning in July [or at least a part of it], but that has no bearing on what happens in January,” she said. The utility put her in touch with an agency called RISE Engineering, which assists homeowners with improvement projects that boost energy efficiency. A few months later, Rise did an energy audit on Weindling’s home to figure out where her heat was going. Turns out the attic was the culprit.

On a chilly day last week, representatives from Rise Engineering and a subcontracting company were on hand to do a retrofit insulation project and an air seal. The project cost upwards of $2,500. Upstairs, the hatch to the attic and the interior wall within had the familiar fiberglass padding used in a lot of homes for insulation. But apparently it wasn’t working very well.

“Rise came in and found weaknesses in the insulation. These are places where heat escapes,” noted George Constantinides, the project manager. Then he lifts the fiberglass padding showing where the draft spaces are between the padding and the wall. What happens is that the cold air from outside gets drawn in and heat gets sucked up and out, causing a stack effect making the home feel cold.

“When you stop the stack effect, you reduce the amount of energy that escapes from your home,” he said.

To do that, Constantinides is installing cellulose made from recycled newsprint, treated with boric acid to make it fire proof.

“We pump it in from a machine. It creates a thermal blanket, a barrier where the heat can’t escape,” he said. “It’s a more effective way of saving energy.”

Weindling is using a utility rebate program called National Grid Energy Wise. Rhode Islanders can do energy projects, such as installing water heaters, heat pumps, programmable thermostats, air sealing and other weatherization and insulation projects, netting a percentage off on the cost. The program is among several listed at the Database of State Incentives for Renewable & Efficiency [ www.dsireusa.org] which are geared for homeowners thinking about doing improvement projects that will increase energy efficiency, save costs on energy bills and fetch a rebate or some other tax credit this year.

An Energy Efficient Way To Heat Your Home: Water Heating ...

Homeowners have many solutions available to them if they want to make their properties more energy efficient. To reduce the amount of air conditioning they need to use on hot, sunny days, some people purchase tinted windows. Only purchasing recycled household items like glass and paper products is another option. Others still consider installing solar panels on their house’s roof to take advantage of the free energy available to them.

Water heating is also an excellent way to make your house more environmentally friendly. When deciding between the myriad of water heater solutions, as well, there is a lot to consider. Not only do you need to decide on an option that provides enough water for your household’s needs, but you also need to find one that will make such provisions in an efficient manner so you can save money. This includes choosing the correct size and fuel source for your individual needs.

First of all, you need to know the distinction between water heater types. Conventional storage water heaters are the large, bulkier type that offers a storage tank of hot water. Demand water heaters are also recognized as tankless or instantaneous water heaters, because they heat your water directly without use of a tank. Unlike the tankless, instantaneous water heater that heats your water directly, heat pump water heaters simply move heat throughout your house. Then, there are heaters who easily utilize solar heat to create hot water, identified as solar water heaters. And the same result can be achieved with tankless coil and indirect water heaters, since they make use of the space heating system in your own house.

To help you choose which heater is right for you, you should also have several selection criteria in place. The water heater’s fuel type or energy source also needs to be considered. Pricing and availability also need to be taken into account. If you have restricted space for your water heater, size must also be taken into account. Lastly, you will want to know how much more eco-friendly your new water heater will be compared to your present one.

When deciding on a water heater, it is essential to choose what type of heater is appropriate for your household’s needs. It is also advisable to factor in a set of criteria before your purchase. Doing so will ensure you purchase the right and most energy efficient water heater for your particular needs.

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