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Water Heating
 Water Heater Tank/Pipe Insulation
15-30% of the energy consumed by a standard water heater goes to keeping the water hot while it's not being used! One effective way to save energy is by insulating the entire heater. You can purchase fiberglass blanket insulation and duct tape and insulate the unit on your own or you can buy a retrofit kit. Both will work about the same, although the kit will probably look more pleasing to the eye. The extra insulation added to a water heater will serve to help keep water warm as well as for longer periods of time.
In insulating a gas fired water heater, it is critical to keep the air intake ports at the bottom and the exhaust flue at the top of the unit clear of insulation.
It is also wise to insulate your pipes. By insulating any exposed pipes, you'll save more energy and money. This will prove to be the most useful during the late spring, summer, and early fall when the interest is in cooling the house, instead of heating it. The heat from exposed pipes will escape and produce a double energy problem. Not only does it make it more difficult to keep the water hot, but it also makes it more difficult to keep the house cool. By insulating the pipes, both inefficiencies could be overcome.
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New Gas Storage Water Heater
Residential type water heaters are often used commercially where hot water needs are modest. New models use less energy due to more efficient combustion and factory-designed tank insulation. Just as an efficient unit can save energy for your home, it can also save energy for your business.
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Instantaneous Water Heater
Most businesses in North America use a storage tank water heater to provide hot water. A storage water heater keeps water hot 24 hours a day, even when your business is closed. A tankless water heater does not store hot water. It heats the water as you use it resulting in significant energy savings.
When a hot water tap is opened, incoming cold water triggers the heating elements or burners to turn on. The water is heated as it flows through the heating elements or heat exchanger. The amount of energy used is always proportional to the volume of hot water being used. Outlet temperatures adjust from 100° to 140° F. When the hot water tap is turned off, the system shuts down-the tap is the switch. Benefits include:
- They are small and can be wall mounted, thereby saving valuable floor space.
- They are designed to last a lifetime with replaceable parts and built with materials such as copper, stainless steel, and aluminum. With proper care they can last a lifetime.
- They are almost entirely recyclable, so if you ever decide to replace them, they do not have to go to the landfill.
They will not develop a corrosive leak like a storage tank water heater, potentially preventing expensive water damage to your business.
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 Commercial Boiler
Commercial boilers can be a significant portion of the energy costs for a small business. Buying newer energy efficient boilers can significantly reduce the energy costs for small businesses.
Proper operations and maintenance (O&M) procedures must be followed to ensure safe and efficient operations for boilers. Without proper O&M energy consumption can increase by as much as 10 to 20 percent as the system slowly gets out of adjustment. Maintenance includes keeping physical components in good working order and within design specifications. This includes cleaning heat transfer surfaces, tuning controls, and maintaining insulation.
Operational practices include equipment adjustments, handling and analysis of boiler log information, and identification of boiler performance goals. Good operations and maintenance practices can be expected to save 5 to 10 percent of the energy a boiler normally consumes. Boiler maintenance must be systematic to minimize energy consumption and downtime due to un-anticipated failures.
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