MXenergy Water Heater Tips

MXenergy Wizard Energy Tips

Water Heating

• Settings - Next to heating or cooling, water heating is typically the largest energy user in the home. To conserve energy, conserve hot water. Set your water heater no higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit or about midway between the low and medium settings.
• Demand Water Heater - If appropriate, consider a demand water heater that has no storage tank. It can reduce your energy use by 10 to 15 percent.
• Insulation Blanket - Wrap your hot-water storage tank with an insulation blanket, even if it's a newer model.
• Fix Leaky Faucets
• Insulate Hot-Water Pipes - Insulate hot-water pipes wherever possible.
• Take Showers Rather Than Baths - Showers generally use half as much hot water as baths.
• Take Shorter Showers
• Install a Low-Flow Showerhead
• Buy an Energy Efficient Water Heater - Plan on buying an energy efficient water heater before your old one fails. If your gas water heater is more than 10 years old, it may be operating at less than 50 percent efficiency.

Source: http://www.coned.com/thepowerofgreen/tips/001.asp