Being green can be quite uncomfortable. Saving water means low-flow toilets, low-flow plumbing and less greenery in the yard. All this is well-proven methods of water conservation, but sometimes people's behavior can interfere.
Human behavior is a big part of the equation
Some of the research that was done for the California Energy Commission back in the 1980s showed that many of the conservation methods were not effective due to how the tenants behave. Smart thermostats, insulation, double-pane windows, exhaust gaskets and an airtight design didn’t do much good when the landlord turned up the air conditioner and opened the windows.
Spending time, water and energy
Another thing to do is to run the water down the drain, waiting for hot water. I am not suggesting that someone jump into a cold shower. By all means, wait until the water warms up before jumping. But there are quite a few people who are simply not patient enough to stand there waiting for hot water. These people turned on the full flow of hot water, and then went to do something else while they were waiting. They shave or brush their teeth, or start coffee, and then return to the shower.
The problem with this behavior is that it not only spends too much water, but also spends energy. It is unknown how much water was swallowed up by the rains. With a two gallon per minute shower head, running it within two minutes after the arrival of the hot water, 4 gallons of hot water will be squandered.
Water heating is much more expensive than heated water.
Energy for heating water is much more expensive than water itself. For example, suppose natural gas costs $ 1.37 / Therm, an effective gas water heater at 80%, a temperature increase of 90 degrees, and a water cost of 0.0002 gallons (national average). In this case, that 4 gallons of hot water cost 48 cents to heat, and water cost less than a penny.
Water Conservation Products - Hot Water Demand Systems
There are several water-saving products on the market that can eliminate both empty water and energy loss in these cases. Products are known as hot water systems. These devices not only eliminate running water into the sewage system, but also give you your hot water faster than starting a tap.
The way these products work is to pump water from the water heater to the luminaires at high speed, sending the cooled hot water that was in the hot water pipes back to the water heater through a cold water line. When you want hot water, you press the button that starts the pump, and when the hot water reaches the fixture, the pump turns off. The pump is usually located at the furthest mount from the heater and can often supply fast, spent hot water on more than one mount.
ACT Metlund and Chilipepper Sales Manufacture Hot Water Systems
Chilipepper CP6000 sales model
Chilipepper Sales and ACT Metlund are developing hot water systems. The Chilipepper CP6000 hot water system model is equipped with a powerful 1/3 hp engine that connects to the water supply through hoses, simply turning off the stop valves under the sink and selling about $ 180. It is powerful enough to handle pipes up to 400 feet long and will work with any type of tank or water heater without a canister. It comes with a 5 year warranty and a 30 day money back guarantee.
Metlund D & gt; Systems
The ACT Metlund D S-50T-PF Kit recirculation pump has a small 1/40 horsepower engine, has inch sweat fittings and must be installed on the counter side of the shut-off valves, requiring water to be drained to the house. It is priced at about $ 340 and has a three-year warranty. It cannot be used with a water heater without a tank and is recommended for pipes less than 50 feet long.
The ACT Metlund S-70T-PF kit has a small 1/25 hp engine, is installed using “threaded fittings”, requires that the water in the house is turned off for installation, and is priced at about $ 440. It has a 5 year warranty and is recommended for runs less than 100 feet or less than 60 feet with a water heater without water.
The ACT Metlund S-02T-PF Kit is equipped with a 1/8 horsepower engine, installed using fittings on the side of the gate and is priced at about $ 750. without water heating. He has a warranty of 5 years.
Finally
Homeowners can be green, adding the convenience of quick hot water, while significantly reducing waste water and even water heating. Just saving that one 4-gallon waste per day, with an electric water heater, will be more than pay for less expensive demand systems in less than a year, and CP6000 in months.
Some water companies offer discounts on hot water systems. The Arizona Water Company offers a $ 200 discount for installing one of these systems. The reward makes a very short payback period.
All of these systems have a life expectancy of about 15 years ... as well as an average water heater. Be green, install a hot water system to your home and start saving time on water, energy and money!
