Thursday, March 19, 2015

New Department of Energy Standards for Hot Water Heaters

Manufacturers have been required to comply with the Department of Energy (DOE) energy conservation standards for residential water heaters since 1990. Residential water heaters are products that utilize oil, gas, or electricity to heat potable water for use upon demand for activities such as washing dishes or clothes, or bathing. Residential water heaters include storage type units that store heated water in an insulated tank and instantaneous type units that heat water on demand.

The standard mandatory in 1990 will save approximately 3.2 quads of energy and result in approximately $34.8 billion in energy bill savings for products shipped from 1990-2019. The standard will avoid about 180 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, equivalent to the annual greenhouse gas emissions of about 35.3 million automobiles.

The standard mandatory in 2004 will save approximately 6 quads of energy and result in approximately $70.6 billion in energy bill savings for products shipped from 2004-2033. The standard will avoid about 316.8 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, equivalent to the annual greenhouse gas emissions of about 62.1 million automobiles.

Standards mandatory in 2015 will save approximately 3.3 quads of energy and result in approximately $63 billion in energy bill savings for products shipped from 2015-2044. The standard will avoid about 172.5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, equivalent to the annual greenhouse gas emissions of about 33.8 million automobiles.



Table I.2—Amended Federal Energy Conservation Standards for Residential Water Heaters Established by April 2010 Final Rule

Product class

Energy factor as of April 16, 2015

Gas-Fired Storage Water Heater

For tanks with a Rated Storage Volume at or below 55 gallons: EF = 0.675 − (0.0015 × Rated Storage Volume in gallons).

 

For tanks with a Rated Storage Volume above 55 gallons: EF = 0.8012 − (0.00078 × Rated Storage Volume in gallons).

Oil-Fired Storage Water Heater

EF = 0.68 − (0.0019 × Rated Storage Volume in gallons).

Electric Storage Water Heater

For tanks with a Rated Storage Volume at or below 55 gallons: EF = 0.960 − (0.0003 × Rated Storage Volume in gallons).

 

For tanks with a Rated Storage Volume above 55 gallons: EF = 2.057 − (0.00113 × Rated Storage Volume in gallons).

Tabletop Water Heater

EF = 0.93 − (0.00132 × Rated Storage Volume in gallons).

Gas-Fired Instantaneous Water Heater

EF = 0.82 − (0.0019 × Rated Storage Volume in gallons).

Instantaneous Electric Water Heater

EF = 0.93 − (0.00132 × Rated Storage Volume in gallons).

 What does all this mean...

If your current water heater is in a small utility closet or crawl space, you may need to find a new home for an updated model that requires more insulation and equipment.
“It’s going to be bigger. It’s going to be taller. It’s going to take up more room. A lot of water heaters are installed in a very tight quarters. So, all of these things could be a major impact if you are replacing a water heater after April in 2015”.
“So, if you go and buy a new water heater today, you might save a little bit more on the upfront costs and you’re again, going to get some energy efficiency out of it. But, come April there are going to be new models out and they’re probably going to be a little more costly but again, more energy efficient”.

If your current water heater is in a small utility closet or crawl space, you may need to find a new home for an updated model that requires more insulation and equipment.
“It’s going to be bigger. It’s going to be taller. It’s going to take up more room. A lot of water heaters are installed in a very tight quarters. So, all of these things could be a major impact if you are replacing a water heater after April in 2015".
“So, if you go and buy a new water heater today, you might save a little bit more on the upfront costs and you’re again, going to get some energy efficiency out of it. But, come April there are going to be new models out and they’re probably going to be a little more costly but again, more energy efficient".
 
It would be beneficial to consider buying an energy efficient on demand water heater. They are already smaller, provides endless hot water, and cost effective. Houseneeds sells electric, oil, propane and natural gas units to meet your needs. The gas units can be either condensing or non-condensing. Click on the link below to view selections...
 
 
 
 
 

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Heat exchangers to meet your hot water and hydronic needs

Brazed Plate Heat Exchangers Single Walled - Water to Water = v7189
 

Single Walled Brazed Plate Heat Exchangers were developed years ago and they are now the most widely used device for isolating hydronic heating circuits. Single Walled Brazed Plate Heat Exchangers transfer heat from one liquid medium to another with no intermixing of the two fluids. Brazed Plate Heat Exchanger requires the fluid to be pumped into both sides of it at once. The brazed plate heat exchangers we sell can transfer up to 240,000 BTU’s per hour. The amount of heat transferred is dependent on the delta T (difference of temperature between the two fluids). It also depends on the amount of fluid moving through both sides of the heat exchanger. Brazed Flat Plate Heat Exchanger are required for all radiant heating systems where you mix heating water with domestic water.
Brazed Plate Heat Exchangers are produced with 10 to 50 flat plates, sizing is easy for your hydronic system or solar system. Well - not required everywhere. But, in most places it is and for places where you can mix heating and domestic water - you should never ever mix the two. Thus, use a Brazed Plate Heat Exchanger for all open loop heating systems!

Brazed Plate Heat Exchangers - Double Walled = v7178
Double Walled Brazed Plate Heat Exchangers transfers heat just like the single wall heat exchangers except with 2 walls. Required in some codes. Check with your local code to see if a double walled heat exchanger is required. Click here to see brochure.
 
OKO Single Walled Brazed Plate Heat Exchangers = v7184
 
 
OKO Brazed Plate Heat Exchangers are efficient, cost-effective solutions to your heating requirements. European-engineered and fabricated under a stringent quality program, these market-driven products provide consistent and reliable performance

Click here if    Used for Domestic Hot Water
Click here if    Used for Radiant Heating
Click here if    Used for Wood Stoves
Click here if    Used for Snow Melt Systems

Shell and Tube Heat Exchangers  = v50
Brazed Plate Exchangers, Shell & Tube and Heating Coil Heat Exchangers. Plate Heat Exchangers for Hydronic Heating. Shell and Tube Heat Exchangers for isolating Pools, Spas and other systems. Heat Coils used with Air Handlers and Forced Air Systems
 
Water to Air Heat Exchangers - Heating Coils = v8987
Water to Air Heat Exchangers Hydronic Hot Water Boilers with or without Glycol. Use in existing Plenums and used for new and existing hot air furnaces.
 
Precison Metal Products - PMP Air Handlers = v6195
PMP Paukner Air handlers are an excelent choice for converting hot water heat to forced hot air. Use your existing boiler to turn your house or specific areas into forced hot air