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What Are Energy Solutions to Heat Water for Domestic Needs?

We all love a hot shower during the winter. In cold climates, hot water is a necessity in every household. Heating water for household needs does not only account for high energy consumption but also causes significant amounts of CO2 emissions. Energy efficiency techniques and technologies can help save energy sources consumed to heat water as well as avoid greenhouse gas emissions.

By 2013, around 98.6 million units of different kinds of water heaters were installed globally. Penetration of water heaters China and Brazil is 28%, followed by Europe and North America at 11%, Japan at 4%, Russia, Saudi Arabia both at 3%, India at 2% and rest of the word representing 10%. This high adoption rate is responsible for significant consumption of energy and consequent greenhouse gas emissions. Together with Wuppertal Institute for Climate Energy and Environment, the CSCP is developing the bigEE (bridging the information Gap on Energy Efficiency (bigEE) knowledge platform.

BigEE is a one-stop shop for energy efficiency knowledge of buildings, appliances, and policy. The platform provides decision makers with a hands-on tool to learn about the best available energy efficiency options for building and related appliances. As part of energy efficiency knowledge management efforts, CSCP produced a detailed analysis of technologies and techniques to save energy use for water heating in domestic buildings. This CSCP publication was recently launched at the bigEE platform and reveals that while greater conversion to solar water heaters and heat pumps will help save energy consumption for water heating, transforming the market from less energy efficient water heaters towards more efficient water heaters will reduce CO2 emissions by more than 300 million tons between 2000 and 2020. Furthermore, end users can save energy costs by using energy efficient hot water solutions. For example, adding insulation to water heater tanks and pipes can reduce standing losses from water heaters by 25-45%, which translates into 4-9% reduction of water heating costs while mitigating greenhouse gas emissions at the same time.

For further informations please contact Ahmad-ur-Rehman Hafiz.

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