The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) yesterday announced the expansion of its Energy Star program to include residential water heaters. The program which rates the energy efficiency of appliances now addresses every major residential appliance found in most American homes.
Water heating represents up to 15.5% of national residential energy consumption, the second largest end use of energy in homes, following heating and cooling, the DOE said.
Using one of five specified water heating technologies, ENERGY STAR® qualified water heaters can reduce water heating bills from 7.5% to as much as 55%.
In five years, the new water heater criteria are expected to save Americans consumers $823 million in utility costs, avoid 4.2 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions, and achieve cumulative energy savings of more than 3.9 billion kilowatt-hours and 270 million therms of natural gas–enough energy to power more than 375,000 homes for a year.
Five water heating technologies are eligible to use the Energy Star label:
- High-efficiency gas storage water heaters employ the same technologies as standard gas storage water heaters: a glass-lined steel tank is heated by a burner located at the bottom of the tank. ENERGY STAR® labeled models increase efficiency by incorporating better insulation, heat traps, and more efficient burners.
- Gas condensing water heaters work much like regular gas water heaters. However, instead of venting the combustion gases directly outside, heat from those gases is further transferred to the water thus increasing efficiency.
- Whole-home gas tankless water heaters apply the same principle to heat water as standard gas water heaters, but without a storage tank. They save energy by heating water only when needed, eliminating energy lost during standby operation.
- Heat Pump Water Heater (HPWH) technology uses electricity to move heat from one place to another instead of generating heat directly. Much like a refrigerator working in reverse, a HPWH uses liquid refrigerant to take the heat from surrounding air and transfer it to water in an enclosed tank.
- Solar water heaters come in a wide variety of designs, all using the sun’s thermal energy to heat water.
Energy Star-qualified gas storage, whole home gas tankless, and solar water heaters will be available immediately on January 1, 2009. Qualified gas condensing and heat pump models are expected to be available later in 2009.
Are you familiar with any of these technologies. If so, please share your comments.
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