When he gave to the wind its weight, and meted out the waters by measure; when he made a decree for the rain and a way for the lightning of the thunder; then he saw it and declared it; he established it… . (Job 28: 25-27)

Water heaters consume about 20% of a home’s energy which is more than your refrigerator, clothes washer, dish washer and dryer combined.  Switching to an energy efficient heat pump water heater saves money and the environment  (even in a state that uses coal and gas for electricity, an improvement in efficiency reduces emissions).  The heat pump water heater (which moves heat from a room like a basement to the heater coil) can save up to $550 per year for a family of 4.  This equipment is more expensive upfront but the cost is usually recouped in savings in about 3 years and there are tax rebates (through the Inflation Reduction Act -IRA.  A savings calculator for our area can be found at https://homes.rewiringamerica.org/calculator) of up to $2000 for purchase and installation.  Sometimes there is also a rebate from local utilities. 

3 pointers

• Be sure the heat pump water heater is certified by Energy Star.  The energy star website (energystar.gov) has excellent information about products and installers
• You will need a 240 outlet to plug in the heat pump but you do not need an exhaust vent as you need for gas water heaters and if you are replacing an electric water heater, you already have a 240 outlet.
• If you wait for your water heater to fail, you may not have time to evaluate and find an installer.  So replace if your water heater is getting close to its lifespan.

Another efficient choice is the tankless water heater.  Tankless water heaters, also known as demand-type or instantaneous water heaters, provide hot water only as it is needed. They don’t produce the standby energy losses associated with storage water heaters.  Tankless water heaters can be powered by gas or electricity.  Electric tankless are slightly less expensive and slightly more efficient, are more environmentally friendly and do not require a vent, but they have a lower hot water flow rate though that is likely to change with new models.

The department of energy has an infographic displaying the relative cost, savings, pros, and cons of storage, tankless, heat pump, solar, and tankless coil & indirect.  https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/articles/new-infographic-and-projects-keep-your-energy-bills-out-hot-water.  This infographic was composed in 2013 so some of the savings have increased.

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-Beth Jackson, God’s Green Team Lead