Energy Efficient Hybrid Water Heaters

Conventional water heaters are among the highest users of energy of any home appliance, estimated to represent 17 percent of total usage of the typical home. Energy usage of these appliances was not regulated by Energy Star until 2008. With a recent industry focus on making water heaters more energy efficient, estimates of potential energy costs savings range between hundreds and thousands of dollars annually.

These potential savings are made possible by the introduction of the hybrid water heater on the market. At $2,000 to $3,000 per unit, these newer water heaters are significantly more expensive than their traditional counterparts, but over time, the cost savings more than offset the initial difference in price.

Hybrid Water Heaters – Combined Technology

Simply stated, hybrid water heaters combine the technologies of tank and tank-less conventional hot water heaters. Though the specific designs vary by model, one of the more common products use 44 pipes that heat up, providing the heat source for heating the water that flows around the pipes. In this way, it mirrors a typical tank-less model. But, unlike the tank-less models, this hybrid water heater includes a reservoir to hold some water at all times, decreasing the possibility of running out of hot water.

Benefits of Energy Efficient Hybrid Water Heaters

In general, hybrid water heaters are more energy efficient:

• Eternal Hybrid quotes an 86 percent efficiency rating, its product is about half the size of the other comparable models and it has almost no greenhouse has emissions.
• Though unproven, Hybrid Water Heater, Inc. boasts a model that has potential energy related savings of $2,160 per year.
• A.O. Smith has a model; that operates at a 90 percent efficiency rating,
• GE’s hybrid model is 50 percent more efficient than its conventional models, equating to average household savings in the range of $250 per year.

Technology and manufacturing specifications continue to improve. So, waiting a few years for these options to develop further may be the best strategy. But, if a homeowner is in the market for a new water heater, a hybrid model will, over the long haul, save money and decrease environmental emissions, thus warranting serious consideration.