|
|
Article: Getting warmer: the ABCs of greener water heaters. (House & Home).
- Article from:
- E Magazine
- Article date:
- May 1, 2003
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 Earth Action Network, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
Americans love their hot water. But what most folks don't realize is that their hot water heater is the largest energy gobbler in the home, after their heating and cooling units. According to Jay Burch, a solar specialist at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), "Running the electric water heater of a single-family home for one year creates more emissions than driving an automobile 12,000 miles." The average American household spends 20 percent or more of its energy bill on hot water, and much of what's paid for is heat lost through the thin walls of the storage tank in the basement or utility room. The waste of energy can hit the environment (and the ...