giovedì 2 febbraio 2012

The Energy Efficiency of Electric Water Heaters

When looking for electric waters heaters, many people become concerned with their energy efficiency. Newer models take less energy and time to heat water, so there is less time waiting between laundry loads and showers. Currently, U.S. tax payers can get a tax rebate if they purchase an energy efficient water heater. Electric water heaters that are energy efficient will help you save on energy costs as well.

Electric water heaters not only save on energy costs, they also give off no greenhouse gases. This is a great way to help the environment. Electric water heaters use, on average, 15 percent of a home’s energy. High efficiency models use on average 10-50 percent less energy, which means more money in your pocket. However, there are many factors that go into how much you can actually save. Family size, heater location, and the size and placement of water pipes all contribute to the actual energy use of electric water heaters.

A great energy efficient modification of electric water heaters is to get a hybrid. In a hybrid water heater, a heat pump gets used with the electric model. It pulls the heat from the room to help heat up the water more efficiently. This is a great option for those who live in warmer climates. Tank electric water heaters must always be purchased after you know exactly how much water your family uses. If the wrong size tank is bought, you could end up wasting energy with water that will never be used, or on an overworked tank.

Tankless electric water heaters are obviously a great choice when considering energy efficiency. Water is circulated through heated coils on an ?on demand” basis. In these models, there is no tank that stores the heated water. Tankless water heaters provide an endless supply of hot water that can be used on all faucets in a home. These types of water heaters take up less room than the conventional tank model, and are a great option for apartment living.

When discussing energy efficiency, people tend to think about solar power. Electric water heaters now have the technology to work with a solar panel in order to cut back on energy usage. This is great news especially for people who live in very sunny areas. They can save upwards of 90 percent on their energy costs. When no sun is available, the electric components kick on to heat up the water.

Most models of electric water heaters are now classified with an Energy Factor (EF). This number is placed on the unit, beside an EnergyGuide label. The higher the number is, the more energy efficient the water heater is. Another important metric when discussing electric water heaters, is the First-Hour Rating (FHR). This is basically a measure of how much hot water you use during the busiest hour of the day. Tank size and recovery rating are both important when discussing this number. Today, water heaters offer families the convenience of hot water while helping them save on energy costs.

Electric Water Heaters

Nessun commento:

Posta un commento