Your hot water supply and bigger savings

If youʼre planning to buy or rent a new hot water heater for your home, hereʼs a tip that could save you up to $100 per year: Bigger isnʼt necessarily better.

Even if youʼre satisfied with the unit youʼve got, there are ways to cut down on the energy you use to heat water. And you need look no further than your home heating bill to remind you that any energy you save is money in your pocket. Whatʼs more, using energy from fossil fuels produces greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. Saving energy means producing fewer of those emissions and helping our environment become healthier for all of us.

The hot water heater is one of the biggest energy users in many Canadian homes, second only to the furnace. So it makes sense to keep track of your hot water consumption and make sure the heater is running efficiently. If youʼre keeping an older hot water appliance, your first priority is to insulate the heater itself, plus the first metre of piping. The insulation pays for itself.

The next step is to look at ways to reduce your hot water use. A low-flow shower head can cut your water use in the shower by more than 30 percent. You can use water more wisely by fixing leaky taps and by installing tap aerators that give you the same pressure with less water flow. And you can reduce the energy you use for a load of laundry by 93 percent by washing and rinsing your clothes in cold water. Anything you do to save hot water will cut your energy bill.

You can also reduce your cold water use by installing a modern, low-flow toilet that uses less water to flush. Even if your water isnʼt metered, a water-efficient toilet will make it easier for your municipality to supply fresh water and handle wastewater, a real load off our environment. The same energy- and water-saving strategies will also apply if youʼre in the market for a new water heater. Many of the newer units are more efficient to begin with. But you can also save money by buying a smaller heater if, for example, older children have left home and youʼre now using less hot water.

Every time we use energy from fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas, we produce the greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change.

Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) has developed the EnerGuide for Houses Program (EGH) to help the environment. Managed by NRCanʼs Office of Energy Efficiency, EGH can provide a wealth of unbiased, expert advice on every aspect of home energy efficiency – from hot water heaters and furnaces to windows, walls and roofs. The EGH service involves a thorough home visit with an energy advisor who will give you a customized plan to improve your homeʼs energy efficiency. The service is offered through private sector organizations across Canada.