Reasons For Checking The Water Heater Ratings

Water heaters are a basic necessity for both residential dwellings as well as commercial establishments. There are a number of heating systems that are available in the market but they have to be chosen with care. There are many factors to consider such as the water heater ratings while selecting a new system for your home. The system should not only provide sufficient hot water to meet your daily requirement, but it must do so in an energy-efficient manner without costing you an arm and leg. Hence, you must consider the various types of water heaters that are available and determine the right size as well as the fuel source that would be required.


There are different types of water heaters that are available such as: Solar; Conventional storage; Tankless/demand/instantaneous; Tankless coil/indirect; and Heat pump home heaters.


Ratings are an essential component while choosing your water heating system because it will help you save a lot of money and cut down on energy consumption in the long run. Systems such as the solar water heating system are green, renewable resources and very energy efficient and will help save on electricity costs. However, a lot would depend on the selection criteria. While selecting the best model and type, you need to look at the following:


- Size - You must select the proper size to meet all your daily hot water requirements. By choosing the right size, you will receive a steady supply of hot water throughout the year and maximize the efficiency.

- Fuel type - The fuel type or energy source is another important factor. There are those that are gas fired and there are the ones that use the electric heating elements.

- Cost factor - The cost factor would depend on the availability of the fuel and the annual requirements and operational costs.


Energy Efficiency

Ratings will entirely depend upon the energy efficiency of the heating system that you use. Normally, the more energy-efficient systems are expensive as compared to the conventional systems. But the money you spend on energy efficient systems will not go in vain as you will save a lot on future operational costs and heating bills. However, in addition to this, it is imperative to consider the other critical factors as well while buying.


Life cycle costs, in addition to water heater ratings need to be taken into consideration while making your choice. Also, look for the energy star label with the energy factor (EF). If there is an existing gas line, then you can consider installing a gas or even a heat pump water heater. Choose a direct vented model with EF of 0.93. The AHRI database will be able to give you products by tank size and energy factors. Select the specifications before running your query.

Solar Water Fountain

Do you love water fountains? Get solar water fountains for your gardens decor. Elegance of solar water fountains will fascinate you immensely. These solar fountains are dependant on sunlight. Earlier, using solar power was both unusual and pricey. Only several heavy duty devices and big industries used solar power but now the price of solar panels is very limited and hence its even used to run solar powered water springs.Here are few common utilities of solar powered water fountains.

It is a fact that luxurious items consume more power. A good quality water fountain demand equally good supply of power. This factor makes impact on surroundings, as high demand of power increases demand of contaminants like coal. Thus, polluting power toll is rising constantly and we need to do something to save power.

Solar power comes as a great help and if you switch to solar powered water springs from other kinds of fountains, you are contributing towards green surroundings This might be a small step but it is definitely an effective one.

Power consumption is heavy during the spring and summer periods. This is the time when the usage of electric devices and appliances are on top. Summer needs massive run of highly power consuming devices like air conditioners and hence there is a serious effect in the power supply. We must also take initiative to save power and make a small but effective difference.

Installing solar water fountains instead of other water springs is an effective step to save power. Solar fountain runs on solar energy and hence there is no question of power consumption.

Maintenance and usage of these solar water fountains are so easy. There is no need of establishing link with a power point in your house or purchase a weather-resistant extension cord. Changing position of solar water fountain is comparatively much easier than the other variety of fountains. What you need to do is just drain the solar fountain and move the cords and solar panel in the right manner. You must keep the fountain in direct contact with sunlight to enjoy its excellent benefits. Solar water fountains are very handy and you can move them as per your requirements.

Cost of these solar fountains is not very high and hence these fountains are economical compared to other fountains. There are wide ranges of solar outflows available in the market and these fountains come in diverse prices. Solar panels are needed to run these water fountains and the price of the panels are reasonable. There is more to solar water springs than outdoor gardening.

Apart from outdoor solar fountains, there are indoor varieties also. You can mount a good solar fountain in the interior portion, if there is proper sunlight exposure there.

Tag : home,solar water,home improvement

Choosing Energy Efficient Windows

Energy efficient windows can not only lower a homeowner's utility bills but can also be a step toward saving the planet. Most earthlings are aware of the ongoing depletion of our planet's natural resources. If steps aren't taken to preserve the bounty of resources naturally available in our environment, all of the world's citizens will be sorry. When selecting appliances, timber and building products, it is just as easy to choose an energy efficient product as a fuel hog.

Here are some tips to aid homeowners in selecting environmentally friendly windows:

- Look for the words "Energy Star" on the items. The "Energy Star" rating means that the products have met strict codes that classify them as green and efficient.

- Energy Building Codes must be met. Every state or city has adopted a set of building codes to make certain that new buildings, both commercial and residential, meet certain standards. For example, they must be fire safe, weather safe and accessible for people with disabilities, especially in the case of commercial buildings. They must be set back from the road specific distances and must be properly hooked up to gas, electric, water and sewer lines. They must also meet certain environmental stipulations in terms of energy efficiency -- just how stringent will depend on the municipality.

- Climate codes are also a consideration. Different regions of the country experience more severe weather than others. The United States have been divided into sections with climate codes numbered from one to seven, depending on the average local temperatures in the region throughout the years. Milder temps will need less protection built into the building components. Hot weather will mandate different needs for maintaining comfortable household temperatures than those with extremely cold weather.

- Directional orientation is important. The positioning of the house and the direction that each plate of glass faces will impact how much solar heat will enter the home naturally. Cold climates want to take advantage of as much solar heating as possible while warmer climates want to take the opposite approach. South facing windows allow the most sunlight to enter the building while north facing lets in the least. East and west positioning have a negligible effect.

- Shading has an effect as well. Planting trees or positioning other buildings in a way that shade will spill onto a home is another way of saving energy. If a climate is very hot, the more shade the better. If the region is frigid, the opposite is true.

- Components of windows have a large impact. The most fuel saving of the group have components such as proper frames to keep the inside temps contained, double panes, gas filled, protective coatings to control solar effects, and weather-stripping. These details will add up to utility bill savings every month. Single pane windows of the past are like an open door to heat and cold from the outside.

Homeowners who follow the above guidelines, as well as having the energy efficient windows properly installed by a professional, will be glad they did. Whether building a new home or retrofitting an existing one, the initial money outlay will be repaid every month due to decreased fuel consumption.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Andrew_Stratton

Green Building Practices

Green building brings together a vast array of practices and techniques to reduce and ultimately eliminate the impacts of buildings on the environment and human health. Green building puts an emphasis on taking advantage of renewable resources, for example by using sunlight through passive solar, active solar, and photovoltaic techniques and using plants and trees in green roofs, rain gardens, and for reduction of rainwater run-off. Green building also utilizes many other techniques, such as using packed gravel for parking lots instead of concrete or asphalt to enhance the replenishment of ground water. Effective green buildings are more than just a random collection of environmentally friendly technologies. Careful systemic attention is paid to the full life cycle impacts of the resource consumption and pollution emissions over the building's complete life cycle.


On the aesthetic side of green architecture or sustainable design lies the philosophy of designing a building that exists in harmony with the natural features and resources surrounding the site. There are several key steps in designing sustainable buildings, including for example the need to specify 'green' building materials from local sources, reduce loads, optimize systems, and generate on-site renewable energy.

By: Ashley Steyaert

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Glass Use in Contemporary Residential Buildings

A lot of advancements have been made in the manufacturing techniques of glass products for use in residential buildings. It is no longer the huge energy consuming product it once was with a new generation of products that conserve energy, block UV rays, minimize heat gain or radiate heat and offer privacy with a flick of a switch.

The use of glass in architecture has increased significantly as it evolved into the high-tech product it is today. Because of its transparent quality, glass will always play a vital role in architecture as people want to be connected with the outside world and prefer natural bright spaces opposed to electronically lit spaces and at the same time save energy. Big windows and open architecture in a home bring the light in, provide the opportunity for a wonderful view and create a special ambience.

Glass bricks

This material is not new to the building industry, but because of its structural properties, together with its transparency but at the same time providing privacy has remained a favourite in residential design. These bricks is not only aesthetically pleasing elements but also diffuses light into the home in such a way that overheating caused by the penetration of sunlight is reduced during the summer months. During the winter the thermal properties of glass bricks are comparable to double glazing.

Frosted glass

This type of glass is produced by the acid etching of clear sheet glass. This renders the glass translucent, obscuring the view while still passing light.

Laminated safety glass

This type of glass ensures your families' safety in the event of an accident and also makes it significantly more difficult for a burglar to gain entry trough such a glass barrier.

Solar energy control glass

This is a type of laminated safety glass designed to keep out as much of the sun's UV rays and solar radiation through the glass without limiting the amount of natural light into the building. This type of glass is especially useful in the construction of skylights and curtain walls.

Self-cleaning glass

Ideally used where windows or glass features are not within easy reach with a normal ladder. A titanium oxide coating ensures the break down of organic material when cleaned with warm soapy water and any residue washes away without leaving unsightly spots or streaks.

Written by Jere Botes, architect & founder of http://www.dreamhouses.co.za, a website dedicated to provide home builders, renovators, owners & developers with free professional advice on all aspects of home design, building & diy and http://www.cad-architect.net, a source of over 2000 CAD Symbols, Details, Drawings and lots of other information for Architects & Building designers. Reproductions of this article are encouraged but must include a link pointing to either dreamhouses.co.za or cad-architect.net

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Water Heater Price - How Much Should You Pay?

What is a reasonable water heater price? This isn't so easy to answer. Different units and models have large differences in their prices. Should you just base your decision on the price alone? Are there other factors besides the price that you should consider? Here are some tips for you to follow to find the best deals.

Read Reviews

Before anything else, you should read about water heaters first. Your objective would be not to become a heater expert but to at least get some basic information about heaters. Otherwise, nothing about heater specifications in various sites will make sense to you. Once you know a bit about heaters, your next step would be to go to review sites.

There are many different review sites. The ones you should check are the well-known independent review sites. Depending on the site you are on, you can get some information about various costs per model, installation costs and product reviews. These review sites are actually one stop sites where you can compare the prices and features. You can also benefit from various reviews from experts, amateurs and average consumers like you.

Consider Cost of Operation

There is more to a water heater price than the purchase cost. You may not know that a seemingly cheap heater may actually cost more in the long run. This is because it may cost a lot to operate it. You end up spending more than what you saved when you bought it. If you want to have long term savings on cost, then look for a unit with a high energy factor. This is found on the energy guide or label found on the unit. A high energy factor of around 0.8-2 would mean that the unit is efficient in using energy. This means less energy waste and cost for you.

Consider the Type

The oldest heater model is the tank type. You can now buy these for as low as $100. More expensive models are the tankless, heat pump and solar. The prices of these can range from $200 to over a thousand dollars. The more expensive ones however are usually the most energy efficient and can help you save in operational costs

One reason why tank types cost more to operate is because of standby losses. The tanks of tank type heaters are always filled with water. The water is kept warm even when it isn't used. Hot water that just sits in a tank results in energy loss which eventually translates to higher energy bills for you. The tankless type eliminates this problem by providing warm water only when you need it.

Conserve Energy

You may not be able to afford a more energy efficient heater model at this time. You can however still shave off a few dollars off your operational cost. You may for example install aerators and tank and pipe insulation. These will reduce the heat that is lost in the process of operating a tank-type heater. Aside from helping you limit costs, you are also conserving energy.

Finding the right water heater price may be a bit tricky. The real key is to learn more about how heaters work and use energy. Never pick a heater based on price alone.

Compare water heater price from different brands. Get the best water heater prices online. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ann_Triune