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News Media Contact(s): Jennifer Scoggins (202) 586-4940 |
For Immediate Release December 31, 2008 |
ENERGY STAR Residential Water Heaters to Save Americans Up to $823 Million in the Next Five Years | |
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced the availability of ENERGY STAR® residential water heaters. With today’s announcement, the ENERGY STAR® program now addresses every major residential appliance found in most American homes. Introduction of this product provides significant potential savings to consumers. Water heating represents up to 15.5 percent of national residential energy consumption, the second largest end use of energy in homes, following heating and cooling. Using one of five specified water heating technologies, ENERGY STAR® qualified water heaters can reduce water heating bills from 7.5 percent to as much as 55 percent.
“The ENERGY STAR program empowers consumers to make smart energy choices that will save money, and energy, and reduce carbon emissions,” DOE Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy David Rodgers said. “Expansion of the ENERGY STAR® program to include water heaters will give Americans yet another way to use energy more efficiently in their homes and help the country increase energy security and address climate change.” In five years, the new water heater criteria are expected to save Americans consumers $823 million in utility costs, avoid 4.2 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions, and achieve cumulative energy savings of more than 3.9 billion kilowatt-hours and 270 million therms of natural gas – enough energy to power more than 375,000 homes for a year. Five water heating technologies are eligible to use the ENERGY STAR® label:
Performance criteria were announced on April 1, 2008, to allow manufacturers nine months to partner with ENERGY STAR® and submit qualifying models to earn the label once the criteria took effect. ENERGY STAR® qualified gas storage, whole home gas tankless, and solar water heaters will be available immediately on January 1, 2009. Qualified gas condensing and heat pump models are expected to be available later in 2009. These emerging technologies will initially be available through plumbers and large retailers. Plumbers and builders interested in ENERGY STAR® qualified hot water heaters are encouraged to review ENERGY STAR®'s Water Heater Criteria Development to learn more and find qualified models. Plumbers interested in offering customers advanced water heating technologies should check with manufacturers, for available training opportunities and tutorials on installation techniques. ENERGY STAR® is a joint U.S. Department of Energy-U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) program, formed in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based partnership that seeks to reduce air pollution through increased energy efficiency. DOE and EPA work to offer businesses and consumers energy-efficient solutions to save energy and money, while also helping to protect our environment. More than 9,000 organizations have joined ENERGY STAR® as partners committed to improving the energy efficiency of products, homes and businesses. The ENERGY STAR® label appears on more than 50 kinds of consumer products. To learn more about ENERGY STAR®, and to view the Residential Water Heater Program requirements, visit EnergyStar.gov or call 1-888-STAR-YES. |
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U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Public Affairs, Washington, D.C. |