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naturalChoices
Latest Gas Water Heaters Mean Big savings
New EPA regulations shine the spotlight on energy-saving natural gas
water heaters.
By Drew Robb
ew regulations make it clearer than ever that natural RaTinGs ConFusion?
gas is the only way to go when it comes to water heat- Figuring out which kind of water heater to purchase, however, might
ing. As part of the 2010 National Energy Conservation be a bit confusing to consumers because of the government’s rating
N Act, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) issued ef- system. At first glance, electric water heaters appear to be rated as be-
ficiency mandates that require higher energy factor (EF) ratings on ing more efficient than natural gas. For example, a 50-gallon gas water
residential water heaters. These rules finally went into effect in April storage tank could be rated at .60 EF while a comparable electric unit
2015 in order to allow time for manufacturers to transition from the is rated at .94 EF. No wonder some consumers mistakenly assume that
old standard to the new. electricity is more efficient when the opposite is actually true.
“The actual standard level depends on volume, and every product American Gas Association (AGA) spokesperson Jake Rubin empha-
the consumer purchases will now meet the new standard,” said Abigail sizes that natural gas water heaters are nearly twice as efficient as electric
Daken, ENERGY STAR water heating product manager for the U.S. En- water heaters, yet the federal minimum efficiency ratings for natural gas
vironmental Protection Agency (EPA). water heaters are calculated at the point of use and do not take into ac-
In general terms, the DOE increased efficiency standards for all count the full-fuel-cycle or journey from production to customer. Study
water heaters. The latest rules give natural gas an even stronger after study backs up this assertion.
cost advantage over electricity when it comes to water heating. According to an AGA study, the yearly energy cost of a natural gas
“Those homes opting for electricity and requiring water heater water heater totaled $275 compared to $576 for an electric water heater.
tanks larger than 55 gallons will be forced to purchase more expen- In addition, overall savings from an all-gas home compared to an all-
sive units,” said James York, vice president of engineering, Rinnai (continued on page 04)
America Corp.
Fall - Winter 2015 ❙ naturalLiving 03
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