Striking out in new directions to save energy
Besides upgrading to more efficient air conditioners, furnaces, appliances, and light bulbs, consumers are discovering the environmental benefits of stepping away from traditional options. For instance, heating water is one of the biggest energy expenses in the home. Tankless water heaters save 30% in energy use; they heat water on demand, which eliminates energy waste that occurs when water has to be kept warm in a storage tank. With a tank system, the hot water runs out when the tank runs out; a tank less system offers unlimited hot water. Tankless hot water systems make up a tiny portion of water heating sales right now. They do cost more, especially to retrofit into an existing home. Homeowners, builders, and plumbers aren’t familiar with these systems, and only a few manufacturers produce them. But like other emerging technologies, they offer the potential to save huge amounts of energy.
For many years, costs kept solar energy out of reach for most homeowners. But solar companies predict that innovations in the technology could cut the price of solar panel installations in half in the next several years. Government tax incentives and rebates, along with the rising cost of energy from fossil fuels, are also helping make solar competitive with other energy sources. In fact, tax incentives and rebates are also available to many consumers on a variety of standard household appliances, and even on energy-saving measures like improved insulation.
