The news today is all about the greening of our planet and no steps to that end are too small. Even the most minute effort can prove to have lasting impact in lessening gas emissions that are so harmful to our air quality. Consider the eco friendly water heater as a possible alternative and with that installation, a move in the right direction. In the average American household, just under 20% of the energy used goes to the heating of water using the traditional appliances. This represents some serious expense within the perimeters of the utility bill each month. There may be some merit to introducing a new concept into this area of home improvement.
When shopping for a water heater, there are many points to bear in mind in regard to energy savings. The eco friendly water heater would ideally bear the Energy Star rating which assures the buyer that the unit will provide a significant savings in energy costs and operates at a high efficiency, such as the Rheem water heater which claims to be in the top 25% of like water heaters. This can yield a savings of between 15-40% on utility costs. This product line also offers the tank-less units which are "on demand" in function as opposed to the storage type that we are so familiar with.
For a product of any type to be rated as energy efficient and environmentally friendly, you can expect that there may be some increase in the initial purchase. Technology comes with a price but as with the eco friendly water heaters, tank-less style, not only are you saving in operating costs but the life span of this appliance gives you an additional 5-10 years usage as compared to the storage units. Also, the life expectancy of the storage types might even be shorter depending on the mineral content of the water in any given area. Rinnai is among the top manufacturers of the tank-less model and claims up to 40% savings on energy costs. One point to consider is that the tank-less versions use very little space making it the right choice for the smaller spaces.
The solar water heater system can be relatively costs-free after the initial installation; however, this alone can be rather staggering and not feasible for some families. With any of the eco friendly water heater options, the Federal government has offered some tax incentives to off-set the financial outlays at purchase in an effort to encourage more homeowners as well as business to make their mark toward the "greener" planet. It is a decision to be made for the future of our good Earth.
