Clean up your operating budget with these energy-saving water heating measures and simple upgrades.
Water heating accounts for more than 15% of total natural gas use in commercial buildings, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. For facilities such as lodging and food service, water heating represents a larger share of overall consumption. Reducing energy used for water heating can lower operating costs substantially and improve your bottom line.
Energy-saving measures
These low-cost maintenance and operation measures will reduce the need for hot water and make your water heating equipment run more efficiently:
- Lower hot water temperature. Temperatures can be safely reduced to 120°F for cleaning and laundering. Use a separate booster heater when you occasionally need a higher water temperature.
- Install low-flow shower heads and faucet aerators. These devices decrease the amount of hot water used for showers and hand washing. Timing or sensory controls minimize the possibility of hot water being left on or overused.
- Repair leaks as soon as possible. Dripping faucets and leaks in other water-using equipment not only waste water but also waste the energy used to heat the water.
- Insulate tanks and hot-water lines. Even on newer units, insulation can help reduce heat loss. Hot water lines should be continuously insulated from the heater to the end use.
- Limit operating hours of circulating pumps. Turn off circulating pumps during off-hours to speed delivery upon demand, reducing pump operating costs and limiting heat loss through pipe walls.
- Repair or replace failed shower diverter valves. These valves cause a portion of the water to be dumped at foot level. This problem often isn’t reported to maintenance staff.
- Operate clothes washers and dishwashers only at full load. Wash clothing and fabrics on cold or warm water cycles whenever possible.
Water heating by demand
If your existing water heating system is over 10 years old (or needs repair), consider upgrading to tankless (demand) water heaters. These units are located at or near the point of use and eliminate the standby losses of tank models. Larger gas-fueled condensing commercial units are available with rates as high as 12 gallons per minute, inputs greater than 200,000 Btu/hr and thermal efficiencies of up to 98%.
If your facility has been drowning in water heating costs, these energy-efficiency measures can make quite a splash on your operating budget, saving energy and money.