Below are several energy-saving strategies that can help lower your water-heating bill. You can lower water-heating costs by using and wasting less hot water in your home.
- Fix leaks. By simply repairing leaks in fixtures, faucets and showerheads, you can significantly reduce hot water usage. Water leaks add up quickly. If you see an unusual increase in your monthly water bill, call a plumber immediately!
- Install a new energy-efficient water heater. You can save water and money instantly by installing a new energy efficient water heater. High efficiency means more hot water at lower operating costs. If you replace an older water heater, with the efficiencies of new energy-efficient water heaters of today, you’ll see a much quicker payback due to lower energy bills.
- Install a tankless water heater. With a tankless water heater, you are only heating the water as you need it, so that you are not wasting energy heating and reheating water in a tank. A tankless water heater heats the water instantly and provides it to you as needed, reducing energy and water costs.
- Install low-flow fixtures. Federal regulations mandate that new showerheads flow rates can’t exceed more than 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm) at a water pressure of 80 pounds per square inch (psi). New faucet flow rates can't exceed 2.5 gpm at 80 psi or 2.2 gpm at 60 psi. You can purchase some quality, low-flow fixtures and achieve water savings of up to 25-60%.
- Purchase energy-efficient dishwashers. It's commonly assumed that washing dishes by hand saves hot water. However, washing dishes by hand several times a day can be more expensive than operating an energy-efficient dishwasher. You can consume less energy with an energy-efficient dishwasher when properly used and when only operating it with full loads. When purchasing a new dishwasher, check the Energy Guide label to see how much energy it uses.
- Purchase energy-efficient clothes washers. Inefficient clothes washers can cost three times as much to operate than energy-efficient ones. Select a new machine that allows you to adjust the water temperature and levels for different loads. Efficient clothes washers spin-dry your clothes more effectively too, saving energy when drying as well. Also, front-loading machines use less water and, consequently, less energy than top loaders. If you want to ensure that your new clothes washer is energy efficient, purchase one with an ENERGY STAR label.
Note: Unlike dishwashers, clothes washers don't require a minimum temperature for optimum cleaning. Therefore, to reduce energy costs, you can use either cold or warm water for most laundry loads. Cold water is always sufficient for rinsing.
Source: www.Energysavers.gov
