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Are American consumers really trying to reduce energy
consumption? Or is this just another false start like the
oil crises’ of the 1970s?
We have all heard about the
“American consumer”. Why Americans are called
“consumers” is simply because they consume everything they
can find, and typically in a very big way. After all,
consuming is the “American Way” and this includes oil,
electricity, water, and natural gas. Often they consume in
ways that are in fact shameful. But Americans don’t care,
they can consume as much as they want and nobody can do
anything about that. It is the right to consume that drives
the American economy. Or is it? With the $4.00 per gallon
gasoline prices of 2008, Americans were suddenly dumping
their big cars and SUVs and in a few months they had
purchased millions of little automobiles with small fuel
efficient engines. With a typical American knee-jerk
reaction to high gasoline prices, Americans are buying these
same little cars that people the world over have been using
for decades. For more than half a century Europeans
and Asians accept these same small cars as they have dense
cities with not much available parking space and
traditionally pay two or three times as much for gasoline
than drivers in the USA. Today the U.S. Government has
instituted the “cash for clunkers” bill which pays new car
buyers a discount at the dealership up to $4500.00 if they
trade-in their gas guzzler for an economy model. This is
designed to help the struggling auto industry and reduce the
need for imported oil.
So, what else is new on the
energy saving subject? Tankless water heaters! The
typical American will ask; what is a tankless water
heater?
Another way in which Americans waste energy
is the ways in which they heat hot water. As usual,
Americans have procrastinated until they are the last
culture on earth to change their wasteful ways. Fifty years
after Europe began to use tankless hot water heaters this
technology has finally entered the minds of some American
homeowners. After 100 years without change, Americans
are slowly beginning to accept new energy efficient water
heater technology. For America, today’s flavor of the
month is to “go green”. This and a substantial tax credit
are driving the rapidly expanding USA market for
eco-friendly tankless water heaters.
The large storage
tank type water heater in the typical USA home is a big user
of energy. The average American household spends $400 to
$600 per year for water heating, making water heating the
second highest energy expenditure behind furnace and air
conditioner operation. Like the $4.00 per gallon
gasoline prices of 2008, it seems that only a slap in the
face can awaken the typical American from their wasteful
ways. Again the U.S. Government steps in to stimulate
(pay) Americans to reduce their energy consumption. This tax
credit incentive took effect in February of 2009 and offers
a substantial Federal Income tax credit to get the attention
of the public and news media alike.
USA WATER
HEATER HISTORY
Unlike Europe and Asia, where
tankless on-demand water heaters are common, in the USA
storage type units are prevalent. The storage tank type
water heater is well developed, understood by most
homeowners, but really quite wasteful. Conventional tank
type heaters are throw away appliances and their carcasses
are clogging landfills and lying in roadside ditches across
North America.
In the USA, the traditional residential
whole house gas model tank type heater dates to 1894. The
first model with 90% efficiency was produced in Kalamazoo,
Michigan by a company named Humphrey. Today’s tank
models are only about 75% efficient. The reason is because
of simple economics. The older models were made of “Monel”
which was a copper-nickel alloy. Many of these that were
produced in the 1940s and ‘50s are still in use today. For
many years, the primary concern for USA consumers and
contractors is simply the lowest possible price. To be
competitive in the marketplace, today’s tank type heaters
are made from very thin metal with a glass coating.
Essentially, Americans accept new heaters that are 20% less
efficient than those of 100 years ago.
TANKLESS WATER HEATERS
In comparison to
conventional tank heaters, tankless models differ in
the fact that they do not have a large water storage
tank. These models supply instant hot water in a
continuous supply as needed. Sensors turn on the
instant heater when a hot water tap is opened, and the
unit turns off when the faucet or shower head is
closed and the flow of hot water stops.
Tankless
water heaters are rated by the GPM of hot water that
can be supplied. (U.S. Gallons Per Minute) If properly
sized, they are capable of supplying more hot water
than a tank water heater which has a stored total
capacity. Tank type water heaters are rated in U.S.
Gallons by their total capacity of stored hot water.
Exceed this capacity of stored hot water and you need
to wait for another tank to heat. Depending on the
model and type of tank type heater, this can take
several hours. For large homes or small
businesses with greater GPM needs, tankless heaters
can be joined together and work simultaneously to
supply larger volumes of hot
water.
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Tankless water heaters can be installed virtually
anywhere. Compared to traditional water heaters,
the most obvious differences is its small size.
The typical tankless water heater mounts on the wall,
inside or outside.
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Tankless heaters require a different concept in exhaust.
Because they use a forced air duct system that has higher
temperatures, stainless steel pipe designed for this purpose
is an essential part of any installation of an indoor model.
This special forced air exhaust pipe is unique to this
technology and has sealed joints. (On this type of exhaust,
the gasses are forced outside under pressure.)
In
comparison, conventional gas water heaters use a draft
method of exhaust. This exhaust method relies upon natural
suction to draw out the gasses though a flue. These gasses
contain carbon monoxide, nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide,
sulfur dioxide, formaldehyde, particulates and other harmful
bi-products of combustion. These combustion products may
result in eye, nose, and throat irritation; fatigue;
dizziness; and nausea. With an indoor on demand tankless
heater using a sealed forced air exhaust, these potentially
harmful gasses are evacuated from the home through the
sealed stainless steel exhaust system.
GAS OR
ELECTRIC?
Typically, electric models are best for
single sink, or half bath type installations, or for use in
a workshop or cabin. When in operation, larger whole
house electric models can easily consume more electricity
than the usage demands of the entire house combined.
For this reason, most experts agree that gas fired models
are best for whole house multiple bath installations.
THE MYTH
As usual, American
consumers perpetuate and exaggerate the negative. They
believe these rumors of the past and as usual, most are not
to be bothered with finding out the real truth. With the
internet, up to date and accurate information about tankless
technology is easily found. It seems that internet based
tankless information is the driving force of this new
market. Even today, the typical USA home improvement store
has employees without tankless training. Even though they
sell tankless heaters, their personnel know very little
about them. Years ago, early tankless heaters could not keep
up with the large demands of the typical American household
and because of this they often broke down. For this reason,
they have acquired a reputation for premature failure and
inadequate supply. In reality, today’s models are a lot more
dependable and can keep up with any household’s needs if the
unit being installed is properly sized in GPM capacity.
Today’s tankless heaters are designed to last 15 to 25 years
or more and just as American consumers have been reluctant
to give up their gas guzzling autos and SUVs it may take a
generation before the majority of Americans truly believe in
the same tankless technology that is accepted
worldwide. |
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