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Water Softeners Save Energy. Water Quality Association. “Household Water Heating Efficiency Improvements from Softened Water” by Battelle Memorial Institute. To retrieve a copy of the complete report, please go to this link: www.wqa.org/BattelleReport. US Household Energy Usage.
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Water SoftenersSave Energy Water Quality Association
“Household Water Heating Efficiency Improvements from Softened Water” by Battelle Memorial Institute.
To retrieve a copy of the complete report, please go to this link:www.wqa.org/BattelleReport
US Household Energy Usage Water heaters: Second highest energy consuming area of a home. Source: www.energystar.gov
Battelle Research Results Gas Storage Tank Water Heaters • With softened water: • Gas storage tank household water heaters operated on softened water maintained the original factory efficiency rating over a 15 year lifetime. • With hard water: • Hard water can lead to as much as a 24% loss of operating efficiency in gas storage water heaters.
Battelle Research Results Tankless Water Heaters • With softened water • Indoor instantaneous gas water heaters (tankless heaters) operated on softened water maintained the original factory efficiency rating over a 15 year lifetime. • With hard water (26 gpg) • Tankless water heaters operating on hard water failed after 19 days of testing. • The equivalent of only 1.6 years of hot water use. Softened water saves between 40% of costs (versus 20 gpg) and 57% of costs (versus 30 gpg).
Battelle Research Results Carbon Footprint • 15% increase for gas storage tank water heaters operated on 26 gpg hard water for 15 years versus softened water • 4% increase for tankless water heaters operated on 26 gpg hard water over 15 years
Battelle Study Messages • Even the newest and most efficient water heaters become more efficient with softened water • Prevents a 10% drop in energy efficiency that happens within just 2 years • Eliminates the need for regular scale removal which translate into a 14-57% reduction in operating costs over the first two years of ownership
Is 10% Big? YES! The most energy efficient water heater on the market today …a tank-less water heater…. is 10% more efficient with softened water …..and it also reduces the operating cost by up to 57%
Dishwashing Study Results Lowering the water hardness to zero grains per gallon by water softening will allow for a reduction in the amount of detergent to 30 grams - 38% of full dosage and still achieve equal or better cleaning compared to what occurs in hard water with 80 grams - 100% of full detergent dosage
The Energy Savings Story In Summary • Water heaters are the 2nd biggest users of residential energy • Consumers are switching to energy efficient appliances to cut energy costs • Most manufacturers of water based appliances recommend that consumers use soft water • The independent 2009 WQRF and Battelle Softened Water Benefits Study showed that: • Water heaters using softened water are 10% more efficient after less than two years. • Operating costs of a tank-less water heater using soft water are reduced by 14 to 57% after 2 years depending on water hardness.
Thank you. Questions?