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On January 1, 2009, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will put into effect a new ENERGY STAR® criteria for water heaters, the first in the history of the program. According to DOE projections on December 31, 2013, (the end of the fifth year in effect) the new water heater criteria is expected to save Americans approximately $780 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. Water heating currently represents up to 17 percent of national residential energy consumption, making it the third largest energy user in homes, behind heating and cooling, and kitchen appliances.
The new criteria for high-efficiency and high-performance gas-fired storage (tank-type) water heaters will take effect in two phases. The first phase goes into effect January 1, 2009, and requires gas storage water heaters to be 6.9 percent more efficient than the Federal Standard. Effective September 1, 2010, phase two requires them to be 15.5 percent more efficient than the Federal Standard.
Taking effect January 1, 2009, whole-house gas tankless water heaters, which carry the ENERGY STAR® label, must be 41.4 percent more efficient than the current Federal standard. A whole-house gas tankless water heater is expected to achieve a 30 percent reduction in energy use and save a consumer approximately $108 in annual energy costs compared to a typical gas storage water heater.
