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reverts to energy-saving temperatures “most of us have consistent routines. You can program [the
when a homeowner is away or asleep.
ENERGY STAR is a program run by the Control-r device] to recirculate the water at 6 o’clock in the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
and U.S. Department of Energy that pro- morning, knowing you’re going to be in the shower at 6:10.”
motes energy efficiency. — raymond Vanassche, vice president,
The average American household
spends almost half of its annual energy innovation, rinnai america Corp.
bill, more than $900 a year, on heating
®
and cooling, according to ENERGY STAR ; so, the increased control Tankless water heaters are about 35 percent more efficient than a
a smart thermostat provides can result in significant savings. traditional storage tank system, VanAssche said.
In a tankless system, water goes into the unit and passes through a
oN-demaNd hoT WaTer heating structure fueled with natural gas or propane to heat the water
After space heating and cooling costs, water heating is one of the to a pre-set temperature (usually 120 degrees Fahrenheit). Tankless
most significant energy expenses for the average household. About systems allow the homeowner to set up a recirculation system, so that
20 percent of a homeowner’s energy use is dedicated to water heat- warm water is continuously circulated throughout the home to provide
ing, said Raymond VanAssche, vice president, innovation, Rinnai on-demand hot water to every faucet and showerhead in the house.
America Corp. “That’s a huge saving in energy cost because you’re not waiting for

Tankless water heater systems fueled
by natural gas offer significant
energy and cost savings for
consumers, reducing the average
household expense by 35 percent
over traditional tank water systems.

Fall - Winter 2019 ❙ naturalLiving 05
Please recycle this magazine after you read it.
Photo courtesy of rinnai america corP.