...they seem redundant...
2007-08-31 17:03:49 · 13 answers · asked by patzky99 6 in Environment ➔ Green Living
Hot water heaters use a lot of power but just taking it out might be over doing it a little. Your savings is minimal if you turn them off and on because it takes so long for the water to heat up and the savings is related to the difference in temperature between the water inside the heater and the air outside.
I live in sunny Florida where you run air conditioning most of the year. I installed a heat recovery unit on the A/C that makes my hot water by using the hot gas( waste heat) going to the condensing unit. The thing makes more hot water than you can ever dream of for almost nothing( A tiny boiler pump kicks on and off). If you live down south, I HIGHLY recommend these units. Cost effectiveness is dependent on how many cooling months you have a year.
Solar hot water heaters are probably the most effective way to use solar because an energy conversion is not involved. You have to be careful if you live where it freezes and they put out a lot less heat when it's cold and the system can freeze up. A solar hot water heater should have adequate controls to prevent it from circulating water when there is inadequate sun, other wise it will work backward and cool the water in the heater.
Heat pump water heaters are very interesting as well.
Good luck.
2007-09-01 07:42:32 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
If You Don't Need Constant Hot Water And Don't Have Central Heating, A Combi Boiler Could Help? Or If You Don't Use Hot Water That Much A Direct Water Heater On Your Shower And One On Your Kitchen Tap Will Provide Hot Water On Demand Where You Need It. As For Dish Washers And Washing Machines, Most If Not All Can Run On Cold Water Alone As They Have Water Heaters Built In And Most Heat The Water As They Need It Anyway. This However Would Actually Waste More Energy Than It Saved Unless The Water Heaters Used Are Very Efficient.
Having A Reservoir Of Hot Water On Tap And Having To Keep It Hot By Using A Traditional Boiler Is So 20th Century.
2007-09-01 04:49:26 · answer #2 · answered by Paul R 5 · 2⤊ 2⤋
My parents were hippies well before there were hippies... before the '60's. In the early 1950's they built their own home out of bricks they pressed themselves and they made a solar hot water heater out of some copper pipe, black paint, some tin, a sheet of recycled glass and a water tank that was located in the roof space. They boosted it in winter using a wood stove. There were five children in our family and in the early days we had some people staying, I think to help pay the mortgage. We all used the solar water heater. It was free hot water... although it was gravity fed, so there wasnt much water pressure to speak of. Modern solar heaters are mains pressure.
In modern homes, the hot water heater, if electric, consumes the lions share of the power consumption. You will cut your power bill by around 50% if you currently have an electric powered hot water storage unit.
2007-09-02 08:40:45 · answer #3 · answered by Icy Gazpacho 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
you can save money with alternative way like solar turn the thermostat on hot water heater down put a insulator wrap around your heater. Wrap hot water pipes wash clothes
in cold water but in some cases like washing diapers or
dishes there you need hot water to sanitize.
2007-09-03 00:54:57 · answer #4 · answered by cattdaddy1216 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Another good way to easily save 30% on your power bill is to only turn the hot water heater on when needed and off when not.
Schedule showers, wash clothes with cold water and dishes as well, it's not had, have been doing it for three years myself.
2007-09-01 00:38:54 · answer #5 · answered by groingo 4 · 4⤊ 2⤋
a good way to save on your water heater is to simply turn down the temperature. They often heat the water to scalding and I personally don't know anyone who enjoys scalding hot showers. Just turning down the temp will reduce the energy it uses. Also by reducing how much hot water you use (shower length, laundry, dishwasher vs hand washing) you will reduce how much energy your heater uses up.
2007-09-03 12:05:09 · answer #6 · answered by Mary Beth S 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
And just how would I take a warm or hot shower or wash my dirty dishes or wash laundry???
I am not stepping into cold showers or washing dishes with cold water, they would never look or be clean or sanitary...
What were you thinking here???
I already do wash my clothes that I actually wear in cold water so they wont fade or shrink, but towels, sheets or blankets I always wash in warm or hot water to disinfect and clean it thoroughly...
Dishes would never be clean in a cold wash...
And I sure don't need a cold shower...
That would be too uncomfortable for me...
2007-09-01 03:21:32 · answer #7 · answered by aspenkdp2003 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
So would eliminating your a/c and lights. Hell why dont you just have your electricity turned off.
2007-09-07 21:06:33 · answer #8 · answered by Connor 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes you would save lots and lots of money
2007-09-01 16:17:47 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
And you would get hot water how?
2007-09-01 00:10:53 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋