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Conventional Water Heating Efficiency

Water heating uses 17% of the energy in U.S. homes, and is the second largest energy expense in U.S. households. Solar water heaters or geothermal heat pumps are two renewable energy options for reducing the amount of conventional energy you use for water heating—but you can also save energy by purchasing more energy-efficient conventional water heating appliances.

If your water heater is more than 10 years old, it probably has no higher than 50% efficiency. An old water heater can operate for years at very low efficiencies before it finally fails. One way to reduce water-heating costs is to replace your old water heater with a new, higher-efficiency model.

In addition, you should reduce your hot water use by buying appliances with low water usage, such as front-loading (horizontal-axis) washing machines, and by installing water-conserving plumbing fixtures.

Reducing your water use in general saves you money and saves the energy used to purify the fresh water you use and the wastewater you dispose of. In arid climates, reducing your water usage can also help minimize your impact on the environment and help reduce the need for new dams and other water projects.