How Does a Hot Water System Contribute to a Sustainable Home?

As concerns about energy conservation and the impact of climate change continue to grow, more and more people in Australia are moving towards more energy-efficient homes. An energy-efficient home is one that uses less energy to perform the same functions as a standard home, generally resulting in lower energy bills and a smaller carbon footprint. But what role does the best hot water system play?

As one of the home’s most essential elements, it goes without saying that a faulty, low-efficiency or broken hot water system can be one of the biggest drains on both the environment and your back pocket.

In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the ways in which a high-quality hot water system can contribute to the sustainability potential of your home, focusing on:

• Increased energy-efficiency
• Conservation of water
• Utilisation of sustainable energy sources

Here, we’ll briefly mention the main types of hot water system available including gas and electric (with both storage and instantaneous heating options), solar, and heat pump systems.

While solar and heat-pump facilitated options are by far the most energy-efficient, choosing the right hot water system depends entirely on your personal budget, circumstances and passion for all-electric living.

Before we begin, let’s take a look at how homes, in general, contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.

What’s the connection between sustainability and the home?

According to the Australian Government’s Clean Energy Regulator, in 2019, residential buildings accounted for around 20% of Australia’s total greenhouse gas emissions. It follows that by making homes more energy-efficient, homeowners can significantly reduce their environmental impact and lower their energy bills.

The Australian government’s “Your Energy Savings” program estimates that homeowners can save around $300 per year on their energy bills by making energy-efficient improvements to their homes.

Additionally, the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) estimates that if every home in Australia was energy-efficient, it would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by around 5.4 million tonnes per year.

When it comes to making a home more energy-efficient, a focus on key household systems and appliances such as air conditioners, heaters, hot water systems and otherwise can help make significant change.

Of course, it goes without saying that a hot water system is an essential part of any home, heating and distributing your water on a daily basis. In fact, a hot water system can be one of the single-most significant consumers of energy in the household environment.

It follows, then, that a high-quality and thoroughly considered hot water unit can play a major role in making your home environment more sustainable.

A high-quality hot water system can improve the energy-efficiency of your home

One of the key ways in which a hot water system can contribute to a sustainable home is through energy efficiency. According to the Australian Government’s Clean Energy Regulator, water heating can account for up to 20% of a home’s energy usage in Australia.

By choosing a high-efficiency hot water system, such as a heat pump hot water system or solar water heater, it’s possible to significantly reduce your energy consumption and lower your energy bill at the same time.

One of the most energy-efficient hot water systems on the market is that facilitated by a solar-powered heat pump.

A heat pump hot water system is a supremely energy-efficient alternative to traditional electric or gas hot water systems, the most common hot water systems in Victoria. Heat pumps work by extracting heat from the air or ground and using it to heat water, making it up to three times more efficient than traditional systems. This means that heat pump hot water systems typically consume less energy to heat water, resulting in lower energy bills and a smaller carbon footprint.

In fact, according to the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), heat pump hot water systems can be up to 300% more efficient than traditional electric systems. Truly incredible!

You can read more about heat pump hot water systems here.

A well-chosen hot water system can help save water

Another way in which a quality hot water system can contribute to a more sustainable home is through water conservation.

A great hot water system can save water in several ways, including:

1. Flow rate: High-efficiency hot water systems often come with low-flow showerheads and faucets. These devices reduce the amount of water that is used during showers and other tasks, such as washing hands and dishes, resulting in less water usage overall.
2. Tankless or “instantaneous” hot water systems: Tankless hot water systems, also called demand-type or instantaneous hot water systems, heat water only when it is needed, eliminating the need to keep a large amount of water heated in a storage tank. This not only saves energy, but also water, as you don’t need to fill a tank.
3. Temperature control: Some high-efficiency hot water systems come with temperature control features that allow you to adjust the temperature of the water to your preferences. This can help you avoid using more water than you need, which can help save water in the long run.
4. Water Leak Detection: Some high-efficiency hot water systems come with built-in water leak detection, which can alert the homeowner of any leaks, and thus prevent water wastage.

The Best Hot water systems can utilise renewable sources of energy

Perhaps the most important thing to note about the influence of hot water systems on energy-efficiency is that high-quality hot water systems can easily utilise renewable energy sources.

In fact, according to the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), a solar water heater can reduce a household’s carbon dioxide emissions by up to 1.5 tonnes per year in Australia.

But what’s the best hot water system is right for me?

Choosing the right hot water system for you and your family involves several considerations, including:

• The number of people that live in your household
• The number of litres of hot water that your household uses daily
• Knowing your peak periods of hot water usage and how much water you need during those times
• Understanding the nature of the environment and weather conditions in which you live

Once you consider your answers, feel free to give us a call to find the right solution.

Wrapping up

A high-quality hot water system is a crucial component of a sustainable home. By choosing a high-efficiency system, conserving water, and utilising renewable energy sources, it’s possible to both increase your energy-efficiency and reduce the impact on your back pocket.

Not sure where to begin? With over 15+ years of experience, our award-winning G Store Hot Water team can help. Read more at our Learning Centre, or call us today on 1300 137 567.