Bright Ideas – November 2023

November 2023

Water heating can be the 2nd-largest energy expense in many homes, accounting for about 18% of your total energy usage. Cutting down on hot water use is 1 way to save money. But you don’t have to sacrifice comfort for lower costs.

Try setting your water heater’s temperature to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. Many water heaters are set to 140 degrees Fahrenheit by default, even though households rarely need that much heat

To help your water heater run more efficiently, check if the tank is warm to the touch. If it is, insulating it in line with the manufacturer’s recommendations could save you 7% to 16% on your annual heating costs. Insulating hot water pipes can add another 3% to 4% to your savings.