When it comes to lowering home energy costs, the first things that often come to mind for many people are whole-house solutions like adjusting the thermostat, turning out the lights and upgrading to more efficient appliances.
Those are all tried and true methods to lowering energy consumption, but don’t overlook the bathroom as you search for new savings opportunities — especially when it comes to water consumption.
“Generally speaking, the heating of water is the second-largest user of energy in your home,” said DuWayne Dunham, Clark Public Utilities Energy Services supervisor. “If you can slow the flow, and just use less of it in general, you’ll see savings on your energy and water bills.”
The savings in the bathroom can be taken to a whole new level by upgrading to a heat pump water heater — especially if you have a multiperson household.
While a traditional electric-resistance 50-gallon electric water heater might cost $400 or more a year to operate, a heat pump tank can cost less than $250 annually.
Clark Public Utilities currently offers a $500 rebate for a new heat pump water heater. New homes can qualify for a $300 rebate to install one during construction. If purchased at a retailer in Oregon, a $500 incentive is applied at the time of purchase.
Smaller investments can make a difference. Installing aerators in bathroom faucets or upgrading to more efficient fixtures will lower the amount of water and money that goes down the drain. Low-flow fixtures can achieve water savings of 25 to 60 percent over older designs, according to the United States Department of Energy.
To further maximize savings, change showerheads to those with a flow rate of 2.5 gallons per minute or less.
Older homes or apartments sometimes still have showerheads dating back to before national energy-efficiency standards took effect. Prior to 1992, showerheads often had flow rates of 5.5 gallons per minute. That’s a lot more water for a comparable shower experience.
If you’re not sure which one you have, put a gallon bucket under the running showerhead. If the bucket fills in less than 20 seconds, switch to a low-flow showerhead.
Taking more showers and fewer baths will also save money. As relaxing as they are, baths use more water, especially hot water, than a 10-minute shower.
Don’t flush money
Consider purchasing a high-efficiency toilet. Most models use 1.8 gallons or less. Some manufacturers even produce dual-flush toilets that offer either a 0.8-gallon flush or a 1.3-gallon flush option.
Installing LED lightbulbs in the bathroom will make a difference. They use substantially less energy than incandescent bulbs and are available in shapes and sizes to match the oversized bulbs for vanity mirrors and other fixtures.
Just be sure you purchase lights with your preferred color temperature. Warm light, measured at around 2,700 Kelvin, is great for cozy spaces, but probably not for the bathroom where we get ready for the day. Instead, look to lights of at least 4,000 Kelvin for a color-neutral light.
As you work to save energy, don’t skimp on using the exhaust fan. In fact, you probably should be using it more than you are. The buildup of moisture can be a serious problem for homeowners in the Pacific Northwest and the exhaust fan is your first line of defense.
“Run the fan during your shower and for about an hour after you’ve finished to really move all that moisture out of the room,” Dunham said. “Even the most powerful fans will cost just a couple pennies per hour to operate. If yours is noisy, upgrade to a quieter model. The fan is key to keeping bathrooms free of mildew and mold.”
Energy Adviser is written by Clark Public Utilities. Send questions to ecod@clarkpud.com or to Energy Adviser, c/o Clark Public Utilities, P.O. Box 8900, Vancouver, WA 98668.
