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 Water In Your Home
Our homes account for over 20% of ALL carbon dioxide emissions in Whatcom County. This means that the decisions you make inside your home can have a big impact on climate change. Whether you rent or own, there are tons of ways to save energy. From taking shorter showers and installing low flow showerheads to turning down the temperature on your hot water heater, you might be surprised how much of a difference you can make. So tune in to how your house is operating and remember: conserving energy not only means you'll pollute less, but paying your energy bill won't be such a drag.
Turn down the temperature on your water heater from 140°F to 120°F. It could save you a quick $20 and over 170 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions.
How do I do this?
The factory setting on most water heaters is 140°F. Most households only need the temperature to be set at 115° to 120°F. Generally the thermostat on your water heater is accessible through an access panel on the front of your tank. Your water heater might have an upper and a lower heating element in which case you may have to remove the access covers and adjust the thermostat for both elements. For more information consult your user’s manual or go to the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) website.
Why should I do this?
The typical household water heater holds 40-60 gallons of water within an insulated steel tank.
A dip tube lets cold water into the bottom of the tank and hot water leaves through a pipe at the top (see an illustration). A thermostat keeps the water in the tank between 110 and 180°F. When the water temperature inside your water heater drops below the hold temperature, a heating element is turned on in an electric water heater (or a burner on gas models) to heat the water back up. Obviously when you are using hot water at the tap the water temperature inside your tank drops quickly as hot water flows out and cold water flows in to replace it and your water heater works overtime. But even when you are not running the hot water, the temperature inside your water heater falls and must be reheated. Your water heater uses a lot of energy to continually heat and reheat water.
The higher you set the thermostat the more often your hot water heater has to turn on resulting in more energy being used. A setting above 120°F also poses a scalding threat, especially in households with young children. For each 10-degree reduction in water temperature you can achieve a 3-5% reduction in energy consumption. Reducing your water temperature to 120ºF also slows mineral buildup and corrosion in your water heater and pipes. This helps your water heater last longer and operate at its maximum efficiency. It could save you a quick $20 and over 170 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions every year!
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Showers account for about 2/3 of all hot water use in your home. Shaving just one minute off each shower will save up to 1,825 gallons of water each year(1)!
How do I do this?
You could put a timer in your bathroom and set it for five minutes or less. When the timer goes off, get out. You can turn down the water pressure or turn the water off completely while you are soaping up or washing your hair. Avoid showering twice in one day and consider cutting back to four or less showers a week if you aren’t sweating or getting dirty. Or you could try sleeping for a few minutes longer every morning and then you won’t have time to take a long shower!
Why should I do this?
The average U.S. citizen uses more hot water for showering than for all other hot water uses combined. While much of the world gets by on 2.5 gallons of water per day; Americans use around 400 gallons(1). Being aware of how long you are in the shower is one of the most important actions you can take to reduce the amount of energy you use to heat water.
A 10 minute shower uses approximately 40 gallons of water. Most water heaters hold 40-60 gallons meaning that a 10 minute shower might drain all the hot water in your tank. If this is the case your water heater will continuously run for 30 to 60 minutes to reheat a full tank of water. That equates to burning a lot of fossil fuels to take a shower.
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Low flow showerheads are a very easy and affordable action you can take to cut your hot water use by 40% - not to mention save up to 864 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
How do I do this?
In order for a shower head to qualify as “low-flow” it must have a flow rate below 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm). If your showerhead was installed before 1992, chances are it is closer to 5.5 gpm. But even newer models aren’t necessarily low-flow. First you need to find out whether or not you already have a low flow shower head. To find out the flow rate in gallons per minute (gpm) of your current fixture follow these easy steps:
- Place a bucket—marked in gallon increments—under your shower head.
- Turn on the shower at the normal water pressure you use.
- Time how many seconds it takes to fill the bucket to the 1-gallon (3.8 liter) mark.
Take 60 divided by the number of seconds it took to reach the 1 gallon mark and that is your approximate gpm. (Example: If it takes 10 seconds to reach 1-gallon you take 60/10 = 6 gpm) If it takes less than 20 seconds to reach the 1-gallon mark, you could benefit from a low-flow shower head.
If you don’t have a low flow shower head replace it with one that has a flow rate of less than 2.5 gpm. The most efficient shower heads can be around 1.0 gpm. The lower the flow rate, the less water you are using. There are two basic types of low-flow showerheads: aerating and laminar-flow. Aerating showerheads mix air with water, forming a misty spray. Laminar-flow showerheads form individual streams of water. If you live in a humid climate, you might want to use a laminar-flow showerhead because it won't create as much steam and moisture as an aerating one. For more information check out some related articles and websites.
Low-flow fixtures called aerators are also available for your kitchen or bathroom sink faucets. The aerator screws onto the end of the faucet and controls the flow rate. Typically, kitchen faucets come with an aerator with a 2.2 gpm flow rate but low-flow models are available that restrict flows to 0.5 gpm. When replacing an aerator, make sure its flow rate is no more than 1.0 gpm.
Why should I do this?
The flow rate of your showerhead is determined by how many gallons flow through it each minute. A low flow showerhead mixes air with water at the fixture to produce a comfortable spray while using less water. A low flow fixture uses 1 - 2.5 gallons per minute while traditional showerheads use up to 8 gallons per minute (gpm). To put this in perspective, if you take a six minute shower with a low flow fixture (2.0 gpm) you will use 12 gallons of water. That same shower with a traditional fixture (6.0gpm) would use 36 gallons of water. Your water heater has to work three times as hard with the old showerhead and consequently requires three times as much energy.
Showers represent about 65% of your home’s total hot water consumption(1) - and hot water heaters are one of the biggest energy hogs in your house! Replacing an old showerhead with a low-flow model can reduce the water you use to shower by as much as 75%. A quality low-flow showerhead retails for only about $10-$20 and is easy to install. The reduction in your energy bill means the shower head pays for itself in just a few months. Plus you will be saving 300-864 pounds of carbon dioxide every year depending on your water heater’s energy source.
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Simply washing your clothes on the cold water setting can save you money and avoid up to 540 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions every year.
How do I do this?
Use the cold water wash and rinse cycles on your washing machine. Biodegradable detergents are available that are specifically designed for cold water use (liquid detergents seem to work best). Coupled with hang drying your clothes, you could cut the energy needed to do your laundry to almost zero.
Why should I do this?
Clothes washing is the next biggest hot water user after showers. The average washing machine uses 39 gallons of water per load and the average household does seven loads of laundry a week. That’s 15,288 gallons of water every year just to do your laundry. When talking about global warming it makes a big difference whether or not those thousands of gallons of water are warmed up by a water heater. Using the cold water wash and rinse cycles can eliminate all hot water use associated with laundry. Not only are you giving your water heater a break, you’re preventing 540 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions every year. Plus you don’t have to worry about shrinking your favorite pair of bellbottoms!
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A leak of one drip per second could cost you $1 per month and can use a lot of energy over time.
How do I do this?
Inspect your faucets, fixtures (shower heads and faucets), pipes and water heater for signs of leaking. Look for actual dripping or signs of dripping such as dampness, mold or discoloration below or around the area. If your water heater tank is leaking, you need a new water heater. If necessary, have a plumber come in to inspect hard to access areas. Fix any leaks you find by tightening connections, reapplying seals or replacing fixtures with low flow alternatives.
Why should I do this?
Research shows that about 8 percent of home water is wasted through leaks(1). A slow dripping faucet can drain up to 20 gallons of water a day. Over the course of a year that adds up to 7,300 gallons. If it’s your water that’s leaking you can be sure that your water heater is burning up fossil fuels for a lot of extra hours to reheat the water lost through leaks. Leaks not only waste water and energy, they can put additional stress on your water heater system causing it to wear out faster. Leaks can also damage walls and floors or promote mold growth.
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If your water heater is warm to the touch, it is wasting energy. Insulating your water heater and accessible pipes and can raise water temperature 2-4° without using energy.
How do I do this?
Water Heater:
Unless your water heater's storage tank already has a high R-value of insulation (at least R-24), you will save energy by adding an insulation blanket. This will save you around 4%-9% in water heating costs. If you don't know your water heater tank's R-value, touch it. A tank that's warm to the touch needs additional insulation. Pre-cut jackets or blankets are usually available from around $10-$20. Choose one with an insulating value of at least R-8 (the higher the R-Value the better). Some utilities sell them at low prices, offer rebates, and even install them at a low or no cost. Check out the EERE site for more information.
Pipes:
Insulate all accessible hot water pipes, especially within 3 feet of the water heater. It's also a good idea to insulate the cold water inlet pipes for the first 3 feet.
Use quality pipe insulation wrap, or neatly tape strips of fiberglass insulation around the pipes. Pipe sleeves made with polyethylene or neoprene foam are the most commonly used insulation. Match the pipe sleeve's inside diameter to the pipe's outside diameter for a snug fit. Place the pipe sleeve so the seam will be face down on the pipe. Tape, wire, or clamp (with a cable tie) it every foot or two to secure it to the pipe. If you use tape, some plumbers recommend using acrylic tape instead of duct tape. Check out the EERE site for more information.
Note: On gas water heaters, keep insulation at least 6 inches from the flue. If pipes are within 8 inches of the flue, your safest choice is to use fiberglass pipe-wrap (at least 1-inch thick) without a facing. You can use either wire or aluminum foil tape to secure it to the pipe.
Why should I do this?
Most water heaters store water in a 40-60 gallon tank until you draw it out by turning on the faucet. Your water heater keeps the water in the tank above a certain temperature determined by your thermostat setting. While all hot water storage tanks have some insulation, it is often minimal and can almost always be improved. Insulating your water heater tank is fairly simple and inexpensive, and it will generally pay for itself in less than a year. Your water heater won’t have to work as hard which saves energy and wear and tear on your tank. You can also set the thermostat on your hot water heater to a lower temperature setting, which will save even more energy. Insulating your hot water pipes is also cheap and you won’t have to wait as long to get hot water at the tap, which also conserves water.
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Installing a timer could cut the energy you use to heat water by an additional 12% if you have an electric water heater.
How do I do this?
Pick up a water heater timer at your local hardware store and follow the installation instructions. Program the timer to shut off your water heater at night and when you don’t need hot water. Or hire a local professional to install the timer.
Why should I do this?
Your water heater keeps water at a set temperature whether you are using it or not. A timer allows you to shut the heating element off when you don’t need hot water (while you’re at work or sleeping). This can cut the energy needed to heat water by 12% or more if you have a relatively inefficient water heater or are away from the house for long periods of time. When installed on an electric unit, timers generally pay for themselves within a year. Payback periods for gas water heaters may be longer since they utilize a pilot light.
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Installing a pair of heat traps can save you $15-$30 a year and around 50 - 200 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions.
How do I do this?
Installing heat traps requires soldering some pipes together which generally requires professional installation. It is most cost effective to install them at the same time you install your water heater. Some new units come with factory heat traps so make sure that you don’t already have them installed.
Why should I do this?
Heat traps—valves or loops of pipe—allow water to flow into the water heater tank but prevent unwanted hot-water flow out of the tank. On some tanks hot water will flow out of the tank into the pipes. Since your pipes are generally not insulated this water cools down very quickly. Plus, cold water flows into the tank in place of the leaving hot water and must be reheated. This process can consume a lot of energy over time. Heat traps improve the efficiency of your unit and save energy. They can pay for themselves within a year and prevent up to 200 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions annually.
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About 80-90% of the hot water in our house goes straight down the drain. Installing a drain water heat recovery system can capture that energy and use it to help heat water, recycling energy right in your home.
How do I do this?
These systems can work with any water heating system but are generally most effective for demand or solar water heaters. You will need a qualified plumber to install the system and paybacks generally range from 2.5 to 7 years. Drain water heat recovery systems are generally least expensive in new home construction. Visit the EERE website for more information on how drain water heat recovery systems work.
Why should I do this?
Most of the hot water in our homes goes straight down the drain within seconds of leaving the water heater. When we shower, wash dishes or wash our hands the water going down the drain is usually still very warm. Drain water heat recovery systems use that hot water to preheat the cold water going into your water heater or other fixtures. Don’t worry, your dirty shower water doesn’t mix with water going into your tank, it is simply routed around the cold water pipe to warm it as it passes. More information.
Drain water heat recovery systems don’t require any energy after they’ve been installed. They allow your water heater to run less often, saving money and energy.
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From on-demand, to solar, to high efficiency natural gas water heaters, there are many new options out there to meet your needs and save a bunch of energy.
How do I do this?
Replacing your water heating system is an important decision that requires some research. The system you choose will vary depending on where you live, your hot water needs and what fuels are available. Whatever system you choose, take the time to do your homework and install the most energy efficient system that will work for your application. Contact a local plumber or contractor or click here to learn more about which option will work best for you. Don’t forget to find out if your new system qualifies for federal tax credits or rebates.
Why should I do this?
Water heating makes up a large part of your impact on climate change, accounting for about 10% of all energy used in the home. Older water heating systems can be extremely inefficient. Water heaters that use storage tanks continually turn on and keep the water hot whether you are using it or not needlessly burning fossil fuels.
The difference between a standard new model and an energy efficient new model can also be surprising. Solar water heaters for example consume virtually no fossil fuels and on-demand systems only use energy when you’re using the hot water (learn more). Federal tax credits for efficient water heaters are available as are rebates are from Puget Sound Energy.
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