Water Heater
Your water heater consumes more energy than any other appliance in your home with the exception of your refrigerator. But don't worry, you don't have to give up your hot shower to shrink your carbon footprint. Just a few simple adjustments can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and your electric bill.
- Turn down the temp Although most people have their water heater set at 140 degrees Fahrenheit, you can have all of your hot water needs be more than met by setting your it at 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Turning the temp down by 20 degrees can make a big difference when it comes to your energy bill and your carbon footprint.
- Wrap it up Everyone loves bundling up with a nice warm blanket, even your water heater. For less than $20, you can purchase an insulating jacket that can save about 10% of the energy used by this modern day miracle. Be sure not to block any air vents, the thermostat, or the flue when wrapping.
- Use a timer Do you always need hot water? If you really think about it, you'll realize that you probably don't. By installing a simple timer, you can turn your heater off at night and then set it to turn back on 30-60 minutes before you usually wake up. This little trick will pay for itself within a year and continue to save energy for years to come.
- Install a heat trap A heat what? A heat trap is a device that you can have installed to prevent hot water from flowing into your pipes before you need to use it. When the water is allowed to rise up into the pipes, it cools down and is often wasted while you wait for hot water to come out of your faucet. The device itself costs about $30 and can save you between 5-10 percent of your energy costs.
- Think about an upgrade If it's more than 7 years old, it could be more energy efficient to get an upgrade. Even if you can't afford to replace this appliance right now, be sure that you next one is has the highest Energy Star rating that you can afford.
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