Domestic Hot Water System
The cost of water includes the cost of the water itself, the cost of heating hot water, and the cost of pumping water. Next to heating or cooling, water heating is typically the largest energy user and during the past 20 years, the fraction of energy used for water heating has steadily increased.
Day to day activities
Field Inspection Check List
- Leakages
- Filters
- Pumps
- Thermostat setting
Recommendations, advice and tips
- A highly efficient natural gas water heater can provide plenty of hot water at a much lower operating cost than an electric unit.
- Heat pump water heaters use less than half as much electricity as conventional electric resistance water heaters. If you use electricity for water heating, consider installing a heat pump water heater.
- For buildings with a high demand for sanitary hot water, the installation of a solar water heater should be examined.
- Insulate all pipes and equipment. An 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.
- Replace old showerheads. Efficient shower heads can reduce the hot water used by typical shower by about one half.
- Shut down domestic hot water circulating pumps during unoccupied hours.
- Use highly efficient electric motors
|