by Shane Henson — October 31, 2011—Facilities managers who utilize new energy-efficient water heating technologies and practices can help drastically reduce energy costs in the buildings they manage, according to a new study of emerging technologies released by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). The study, Emerging Hot Water Technologies and Practices for Energy Efficiency as of 2011, surveys and examines a suite of 16 products and services ranging from heat pumps (5055% savings) and high-efficiency gas water heaters (3039% savings) to best maintenance practices for multifamily buildings (25% savings).
One of the prominent features of this study is the great variety of water-heating technologies available today: the storage, tankless, and hybrid units surveyed suggest that consumers can now select a water heater that not only saves energy, but also offers hot water service tailored to their needs. For example, in some applications, point-of-use water heaters can deliver hot water to isolated fixtures (such as remote lavatories) faster and with less waste than whole-building storage units.
Other findings in the report include:
- Commercial point-of-use water heaters can deliver hot water to lavatories and sinks in new buildings at a negative incremental cost to developers.
- Drainwater heat recovery devices and on-demand recirculation pumps can greatly improve system performance at very low cost compared with standard plumbing.
