People are increasingly becoming more environmentally conscious and concerned about their impact on the environment as well as climate change. If you’re one of them, you may be on the hunt for finding ways to improve energy efficiency in your home, and switching to the tankless or on-demand water heater is one of them.
Tankless hot water heaters, or otherwise known as on-demand water heaters, don’t use a tank to store hot water like traditional water heaters. Instead, they apply heat instantly to your water flow, which in turn saves you energy by preventing standby heat loss.
Standby heat loss is a term used to describe the way in which traditional water heaters constantly need to keep a reservoir of water heated in a tank in order to maintain a high temperature. This is because as the water stands in the tank (even when not used) it will lose heat naturally through the walls of the tank as well as your pipes.
If you’re looking for a tankless install cost quote you might be a little surprised by the upfront amount, but despite their high initial costs, a tankless water heater will save you money in the long run. While a traditional water heater can cost you as much as $18 a month, a tankless water heater will bring you up to $60 a month.
The difference can be dissuading, but when you consider that a tankless water heater can reduce your home’s energy consumption by up to 30%, then the end results will likely be worth it. On top of your energy-savings, there are also often government-issued rebates that incentivize homeowners to switch to more energy-efficient household appliances, so you can save money there as well.
Energy Conservation Helps the Environment
Regardless of your long-term money savings, you’ll also have peace of mind knowing that you are doing your part when it comes to helping the environment. Too often it can seem like energy is limitless, especially when you can’t visibly see it – but this isn’t true unless you are using a renewable source of energy.
In order to produce more energy, many communities would have to use more natural gas, oil, or coal, which in turn would put more pressure on the environment as people seek to get more of these resources. Even hydropower is not as environmentally-friendly as one might think because of the effects that dams have on fish migration and population.
At least for now, the traditional ways that people use energy are mostly non-renewable, so it’s important that each person does what they can to limit the energy that they use day-to-day. Tankless water heaters are just one step in the right direction, but also consider other changes to your home like replacing other appliances with energy-efficient models, insulating or upgrading your windows, or even using less plastic in your everyday life.
When everyone takes the time to consider their environmental impact, then the difference can be seen. So if you’re taking the time to find more ways to save energy in your home, then give yourself a pat on the back – you’re doing more to help then you may even realize.