The US Department of Energy (DOE) aims to improve water heater energy efficiency. If finalized, the proposed standards will save consumers $11 billion annually on utilities. Residential water heaters’ energy use would decrease by 21% by 2029.
Conventional water heaters, common in the US, use gas, oil, or electricity for heating. 240-volt water heaters are more efficient, heating water faster than 120-volt ones.
DOE’s standards target common-sized electric water heaters to adopt heat pump technology. Heat pump water heaters transfer outside air heat to water, improving efficiency. Gas-fired instantaneous water heaters must embrace condensing technology for efficiency gains. Condensing water heaters recycle exhaust gases’ heat, outperforming traditional gas-fired models.
The projected savings for consumers from the standards are $11 billion annually. Over 30 years, 501 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced.
| Feature | 240-volt | 120-volt |
|---|---|---|
| Efficiency | More efficient | Less efficient |
| Cost | More expensive | Less expensive |
| Time to heat water | Faster | Slower |
