There’s some big news in the HVAC world: starting in the spring, residential water heater energy efficiency standards will be put in place. The Department of Energy (DOE)’s 2015 Energy Conservation Standards have been in the works for several years now, but they don’t officially go into effect until April.

The details

Residential water heaters that use oil, gas, or electricity (both tank stored and instantaneous) will need to comply with new energy efficiency standards by April 16, 2015. The new standards require a higher energy factor rating than before. In other words, water heaters will need to increase their useful output (in this case, hot water) as compared with the amount of input (i.e., the energy required to heat it).

What it means

The long-term results of these new standards are twofold. Not only will they result in roughly $63 billion in energy savings over the next 30 years, but they will also avoid over 172 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions over the same time period.

For many HVAC manufacturers, including those who make water heaters, the enforcement of these new energy standards just underscores the concerted efforts they have already been making over the years to produce more energy-efficient solutions. And while there may be an increase in cost for both manufacturers and consumers at the outset to ensure that residential water heaters are in line with the new standards, the dividends that compliant heaters will pay over the next several decades speak for themselves.

Contact SSI HVAC today for more information about the DOE’s 2015 Energy Conservation Standards.