The Elusive Search for an Energy-Efficient Water Heater

My Sunday kayak adventure with my wife and friends on Lake Tahoe was magic. Paddling that beautiful lake relaxed me to the point where, by the time I reached home, I was ready for a ...

Building a Boiler Side-Arm

Author: Michael Lamb

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November 01, 1999

A boiler is generally more fuel efficient than a standard gas water heater, especially when the boiler is fully loaded. [continue reading]

Money Down the Drain: Controlling Hot Water Recirculation Costs

Author: Fredric S. Goldner

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November 01, 1999

Energy use for domestic hot water (DHW) is the second largest component of a multifamily building's energy budget; it is surpassed only by heating in cold and mixed climates. [continue reading]

Fuel Use in Multifamily Buildings

Author: F.L. Andrew Padian

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November 01, 1999

Multifamily buildings with more than five units make up about 17% of all U.S. housing, yet scant information exists on the fuel use of these building in specific locations (see "Multifamily Statistics"). [continue reading]

Ground Source Heat Pumps Dig In

Author: Sandy Cataldo

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September 01, 1999

Ground source heat pumps (sometimes called geothermal heat pumps, Geo-Exchange Systems, or GHPs) most often exchange heat with the ground by means of a ground heat exchanger. [continue reading]

Calculating Water Heater Energy Use

Author: Steven Bodzin

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July 01, 1999

Have you ever wanted to calculate how much energy a water heater would use annually in a given household? To make this task easier, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) has developed a straightforward equation that produces results close to those of simulation programs--without their baffling complexity. [continue reading]

Making Solar Hot Water Affordable

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January 01, 1999

In 1995, a group of agencies in Florida teamed up to bring low-cost solar systems to low-income households so they could save money on their utility bills. [continue reading]

Hot Water Improvements Top Warm Climate Weatherization Measures

Author: Deborah Rider Allen

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September 01, 1998

Reducing hot water costs is the most cost-effective way to save money for low-income housing in warm climates. This is one conclusion that can be drawn from a new study on the cost-effectiveness of energy-saving measures for low-income housing in warm climates. [continue reading]

Water Saving Gadgets Make a Splash

Author: Scott Chaplin

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July 01, 1998

The National Plumbing Standards passed by Congress in 1992 as part of the Energy Policy Act marked a turning point for U.S. manufacturers of toilets, faucets, and showerheads. [continue reading]