How to Measure the Value of Propane Tankless Units vs. Electric Heat Pump Water Heaters

How to Measure the Value of Propane Tankless Units vs. Electric Heat Pump Water Heaters

New research will compare systems under a comprehensive set of performance and economic standards.

Both propane tankless water heaters and heat pump water heaters (HPWHs) are considered to be high-performance systems. But research compiled recently by Newport Partners, a building-industry research firm in Davidsonville, Md., shows that in five significant areas—energy source, economics, installation requirements, hot water delivery rates, and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions—propane tankless water heaters are the better option.

According to the Department of Energy, residential water heating is often the second largest user of energy in the home and can account for up to a quarter of all household energy consumption. Given the significance of this energy load, for something that homeowners use every day no matter what the climate, construction pros should train to know what the different systems have to offer. Here are some highlights from the Newport’s research compilation:

Energy Source

•Even though HPWHs, which typically run on electricity, might have high efficiency ratings, the upstream electricity that powers them results in significant CO2 emissions. Comparable propane systems emit less than half the greenhouse gases as systems running on electricity to produce the same amount of energy.
•Understanding the true meaning of an appliance’s Energy Factor (EF) is crucial when making comparisons. EF is a standardized measurement of a water heater’s ability to convert incoming energy into hot water. Using EF to compare propane vs. electric systems doesn’t work; it’s like predicting fuel costs for two identical trucks, with one running on diesel and the other gasoline. The comparison doesn’t work unless the price of the energy is factored in.
Economics

•Installed first costs for HPWHs in new construction are nearly 34 percent higher than costs for installing a propane tankless water heater. In a replacement scenario, HPWHs are at least 18 percent more expensive to purchase and install.
•On average, running an HPWH costs about $40 less per year than a propane tankless water heater. But that $40 difference doesn’t take into account a complicated installation that can cost $400 to $650 more.
•It’s important to calculate a water heater’s Annual Cost of Ownership (ACO), which is the cost for buying a unit—spread out over the system’s rated service life—and its annual energy bill. The ACO for a propane tankless unit’s service life 18 percent lower than for an HPWH in new construction and 13 percent lower in a replacement scenario. Another factor: The service life of a propane tankless unit is five to seven years longer than an HPHW.
Installation Requirements

•A propane tankless water heater can be located inside or outside, and can be used as a central system or point-of-use. Their compact sizes saves 16 square feet of space compared to HPWH units, which require at least 1,000 cubic feet of air space around the appliance. HPWHs require installation in locations that remain in the 40- to 90-degree F range year-round, eliminating garage locations in many climates.
•A tankless unit has a dedicated air intake and exhaust; an HPWH exhausts cool air into the home, which can add to the heating costs.
Hot Water Delivery Rates

•Tankless systems deliver triple the hot water flow rate, on average, compared to HPWHs. Even the Energy Star qualification requirements show this difference in delivery rates.
CO2 Emissions

•The CO2 emissions for a propane tankless unit are 39 percent lower that for an HPWH.

The full study by Newport Partners is due to be published later this year. In the meantime, learn more about the advantages of water heating with propane by taking the free online CEU courses available at the Propane Training Academy.

Green Living Benefits of Propane Homes

Multiple Benefits of Propane Homes

Cost savings, energy efficiency, and an environmentally friendly profile aren’t the only benefits of propane. For those who are so inclined it can also help fuel some of life’s luxuries.

Is propane a lifestyle choice or an ecologically friendly way to attain greater energy efficiency?

For builder Bob Knight, co-owner of Paul Homes in Cape Coral, Fla., it’s both. The combination of energy savings and outdoor luxuries is what prompted him to run most of his new home on propane—inside and out.

After he decided to install a propane-fueled grill and back-up generator in his new home, he kept finding more uses for propane. Now, propane is the energy source for a pool and spa heater, a fire feature in the pool, a fire pit, two tankless water heaters, a clothes dryer, and a wood-burning fireplace with a gas starter.

While saving money on his utility bills wasn’t Knight’s primary goal in using propane, it’s been a nice bonus. He estimates that he is saving about $1,300 per year on his total (gas and electric) utility bill—and that’s in a 3,500-square-foot, two-story home with 5.5 bathrooms.

“Electricity is still relatively inexpensive in Florida now, but I anticipate the cost per kilowatt hour will go up,” says Knight. “My energy costs are lower with this new home than they were in my 2,600-square-foot old home, and I think propane is what’s made the difference. Plus, it doesn’t take long to pay for itself.”

Knight’s experience is not atypical: PERC’s research with the Propane Energy Pod shows that installing propane systems instead of those running on other energy types frequently reduces overall energy costs—even in warmer climate zones like Florida.

The builder does a lot of entertaining, “so it’s great to have propane for everything in the backyard,” says Knight, who finished his home in May 2010. “I like sitting around a fire with no smoke, watching water from the fire bowl spill into the pool. I can heat up the spa or use the grill without having to worry about running out of gas.”

Knight’s extensive use of propane has also become a selling tool for him. “A lot of our customers aren’t familiar with propane, but once I tell them that I use it at my own home, that they won’t even see the underground tank, and that the delivery process is easy, then they’re comfortable with it,” he says. “Once they go for putting in a tank I say, ‘Let’s look at the things you can add on to this for the future.’”

What is Renewable Energy?

What is Renewable Energy?

Fossil fuels are used to make energy we use, but once they are gone we will never get more of them. Coal, oil, and natural gas all fall into this category. They are used all over the place in high amounts so you may not realize that they are in limited supply.

These forms of energy have been used mainly because they are affordable and they don’t take up very much room to incorporate. They can be transported anywhere they are needed as well. With natural resources there have to be certain elements in place in order to take advantage of them.

The concept of renewable energy embraces the ability to use the resources we naturally have, but that we will never run out of. This way we can continue to have all the benefits we want without destroying the Earth.

We also won’t be preventing future generations from having the chance to future grow and evolve beyond what we were able to see take place in our own lifetime. This process involves taking these types of natural resources and turning them into a product we can use for power.

That means a great deal of information and technology has to be collected and evaluated. Many of these methods though continue to see advances in the designs and processing which will result in them being even more valuable in the future than they are right now.

Most will agree that renewable energy sources are better for the environment. The burning of fossil fuels including gasoline and coal isn’t good for the environment. These natural resources will allow us to save resources and at the same time to live in a cleaner environment than we have now.

Many believe it isn’t practical or safe to depend only upon these types of resources though. That is because the sun doesn’t always shine so the energy can’t be collected. There are many places where the sun is blocked for days due to the changes in the seasons.

You can’t predict how much wind will be produced or how much power can be taken from the water. It will vary significantly but there is no reason why we can’t rely upon these renewable energy sources as the primary providers. We can then depend on fossil fuels as back up so we never have to go without the energy we want to use.

Chances are you have heard about the various forms of renewable energy but not in detail. Keep on reading and you will get all the information you need including the pros and cons of each type. You will find each of them does offer some hope for the future though as far as reducing our dependency on those resources which we can’t replenish.

10 Things You Should Put in Your House in 2010

The last thing home builders should want is a reputation for turning out substandard houses loaded with the cheapest materials they can find. Sure, the company might make money for a while, but in the end, the negative word-of-mouth will spread faster than you can say “class action lawsuit,” and everyone knows where that could lead.

Conscientious builders, instead, try to turn a profit but looks for ways to make houses more energy-efficient, more durable, more attractive, and cheaper to operate. Simply put: They look for ways to make houses better.

There are different ways to build a better house, of course. Using tried-and-true techniques that work should be the first option. But because building scientists and manufacturers have learned much in the last 25 years, there are a variety of ways builders can improve their products.

Last year, BUILDER Online wrote about 10 ways to improve the perceived value of homes in “10 Things You Must Put in Your Next House.” This list recommended items such as inexpensive butcher block countertops, but it also included products that could be deemed “green” such as dual-flush toilets and tankless water heaters. “Is it me or were 9 of the 10 of these green-oriented products?” one reader commented. “Maybe the title should have been ‘Go Green in 2009.’”

You can call these products green if you like, but that’s not our intent. People mistakenly associate products that improve performance or save money with the green movement. In the old days, it was merely called Yankee thrift, good building practices, or simply common sense. Sometimes a better product is not about green; it’s simply about being, well, better.

Having said that, we’ve compiled another list of products. It does contain products that will help homeowners lower their energy bills, but it also consists of offerings that will last longer and perform better than conventional choices.

As is the case with many high-performing products, some of these will have a higher initial cost, but they save money in labor, maintenance, energy, or replacement. Use one or use them all if your budget allows. Feel free to call them green if you like. But regardless of what you call them, any of these products will improve your houses and your reputation with your buyers in the New Year and beyond.

Credit: Georgia Pacific

Radiant Barrier
A radiant barrier is simple: It’s just a structural panel with a reflective material (usually aluminum) laminated to one side that installs foil side down on a roof deck to reduce heat gain in warm climates. Manufacturers say the panels can block up to 97% of heat transfer through roof sheathing, which lowers attic temperatures and consequently reduces cooling costs by 5% to 10%. Studies say the material ranges from 15 cents to 75 cents per square foot, but you have to install roof sheathing anyway, so why not get one with the foil attached?

Credit: Dow Building Solutions

Foam Board Insulation
Insulation on the interior is a no-brainer, but a house also will see additional benefits from rigid foam board insulation installed on the exterior wall or roof deck. In addition to boosting thermal resistance, the product adds to a house’s structural strength and reduces conduction through elements such as joists and studs. Boards range in R-values from 3.8 to 8 per inch of thickness.

Credit: Marvin Windows and Doors

Better Windows, Better Placement
Energy Star-qualified windows were more than adequate a short time ago, but with the development of better glazing technology, they are no longer good enough. If the budget permits, get the best climate-specific window you can. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 offers homeowners a tax credit for using replacement windows with a 0.30 U-factor and a 0.30 solar heat gain coefficient. And remember, where you put the windows (and their shading) is just as important as the products themselves.

Credit: ARXX Corp.

ICF Foundation
It’s pointless to improve the energy efficiency of your houses only to neglect the basement walls. Houses leak here too. Building with insulating concrete forms (ICFs) is a smart way to go. ICFs are lightweight rigid expanded polystyrene or extruded polystyrene foam forms that hold concrete in place during the curing process but are left in place to serve as thermal insulation for the walls. In addition to possessing insulation values ranging from R-17 to R-26, ICF foundation walls are fast and easy to construct.

Credit: Follansbee Steel

Metal Roof
Asphalt dominates the residential roofing category, but more green building advocates are recommending metal roofs as an energy-efficient improvement. Available in aluminum, stainless steel, copper, or zinc, metal is a durable, lightweight material that’s extremely fire-resistant. No wonder it’s the material of choice for so many agriculture buildings. Considered a “cool” roof, a metal roof reflects heat, lowers energy use, and helps reduce the heat island effect. The product is pricey—especially copper, zinc, and stainless steel—but it has a low lifecycle cost, and some states offer lower home insurance premiums for homes with metal roofs.

Credit: AZEK Building Products

Cellular PVC Trim
Wood, the old standby, is a good choice for exterior trim. But unless you’re using durable species such as mahogany, teak, or cedar, millwork will eventually succumb to Mother Nature. Available as trim, sheets, and corner boards, cellular PVC lumber can be cut and nailed like wood, but it’s resistant to moisture and insects, which means a homeowner will not have to replace it—at least not anytime soon. It can be painted, but manufacturers say there’s no need.

Credit: TruStile Doors

Solid Core Doors
A hollow-core door may look acceptable, but homeowners will soon notice how flimsy they feel and how little soundproofing and privacy hollow-core doors truly offer. But, then again, what do you expect for a $30 slab? Solid-core doors are much better. Not only do they sound and feel more substantial to a homeowner, they also exhibit excellent sound transmission properties. They last longer too. Considering that the average new home in 2007 measured 2,407 square feet and had 8.6 interior passage doors, solid core doors will seem pricey at $100. The good news is that the homes that are being built–and sold in the downturn–are smaller and likely have fewer doors. Using solid-core doors only for bedrooms and main bathrooms will also lower costs.

Credit: Resolute USA

Better Light Fixtures
There are a handful of areas where it can be painfully obvious that the builder took the cheap way out. Inferior lighting is one of them. Here are a few tips: Don’t try to get too fancy. Don’t get brass. Do go for something simple and elegant, whether it’s traditional or contemporary. If money is an issue, focus on a living space that everyone sees, such as the dining room/kitchen or great room. Keep in mind that low-cost and cheap aren’t the same things. You can often find a nice simple light for just a few dollars more than your original choice and get a priceless “wow” factor in the process.

Credit: Lutron Electronics

Dimmers
Say you haven’t bought into the energy efficiency hype of compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs, and your pockets aren’t deep enough for light-emitting diodes (LEDs). For you, incandescent is the one true light. Fair enough, but at least install a few dimmers so your buyers can save some bucks by lowering the intensity of the light output as needed. Dimmers allow homeowners to save energy, extend the life of light bulbs, and gain more lighting flexibility in their home. Again, think strategically and install dimmers just in the kitchen, living room, and maybe the dining room if margins are tight.

Credit: RAIS

EPA-Certified Wood Stove
Strictly speaking, a freestanding wood-burning stove will not improve your house–although if you select one of those really handsome European numbers, it will certainly add to your home’s aesthetics. But the beauty of a wood stove goes deeper than the unit’s cast iron or soapstone skin. Unlike a fireplace, a wood stove performs a slow controlled burn that produces substantially less smoke. The product also is an excellent source of supplemental heat, which is radiated to a house long after the fire dies away. Consequently, a properly sized wood stove can heat up to 4,000 square feet.

Global Warming And The Impact on Wildlife

When it comes to global warming, much of the focus is placed on how it can impact us, personally, and future generations to come. As important as this is, it is also important to remember that global warming stretches far beyond human impact. Wildlife will also be affected by global warming as well. In fact, the affects of global warming on wildlife often have a direct relation to the human affects.

What we need to remember about global warming is that it is causing a slight rise in the earths temperatures. Although scattered, many cities and towns on the ground are experiencing an increase in temperatures as well. In fact, many record high temperatures are being shattered. While this may leave us, humans, feeling hot, uncomfortable and wanting to spend all day in the pool, it is having an even bigger impact on wildlife.

For starters, it is important to examine polar bears. In fact, when many individuals think of global warming and wildlife, polar bears are the first thought that comes to mind. This is due in part to the media attention that is circulating them. Many environmentalists and wildlife experts feel that polar bears will become extinct in certain areas of the world, due to melting ice. This ice melting is directly related to the earths increase in temperatures. Unfortunately, polar bears rely on ice shelves when hunting. Many are unable to swim long distances without them. If polar bears do not perish because of the extended swims, they will because of the lack of food in the area.

Birds are another form of wildlife that can be impacted greatly by global warming. As our temperatures increase, birds are starting to change their migration paths. These migration changes are expected to increase in numbers in the future. While this may seem like an exciting prospect for birdwatchers, it can have negative consequences on the birds themselves. Many birds, especially migratory birds, have a set pattern that they follow. This pattern also depends on their ability to get food. The changes in this pattern can lead to trouble for many migratory birds, who essentially travel too far as the weather misleads them.

Bird and polar bears are not the only forms of wildlife that will be affected by global warming. Insects, mice, and other rodents will also change their habitats. You will see that if the conditions are right, many will stay on the move. Unfortunately for us, rodents and many insects, such as mosquitoes often bring diseases along with them. Yes, many of these diseases are treatable, but it will take time to adjust. In fact, a wide spread panic may ensue if area that was previously disease free starts to see changes. In this aspect, global warming can cause harm to both humans and wildlife.

If you are an animal lover or if you value your health and the health of your future family members to come, you may want to take action. In fact, that is why global warming is seeing an increase in media coverage, as many scientists and wildlife experts want you to take action. A few of the many ways that you can help, not just wildlife, but the planet in general, is by reducing the carbon dioxide emissions that you release into the earths atmosphere, whether it comes from your home, car, or place of business.

Aurora Products Elements Eco-Friendly D-Ring Binder, 2-Inch Capacity, White (20363)

Eco-friendly binder made for long-lasting dependable use. D-rings hold more sheets than round rings for greater capacity in same size binder. Open and close triggers for easy access to documents. Binder Type: Ring Binder, Global Product Type: N/A, Binder Style: Non-View, Maximum Capacity Range (”): 2 in.

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Cuisinart Green Gourmet Eco-Friendly Skillets

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Cook up delicious, healthy meals for your family with the environmentally minded Cuisinart Green Gourmet Hard Anodized 8-inch skillet, featuring Cuisnart’s new energy-efficient and eco-friendly Cermica nonstick surface. But more than just reducing your carbon footprint, this new nonstick coating allows for easy food release and the ability to use less fat while cooking as well as for use in the oven for browning. From eggs at breakfast to fish, chicken, or steak at dinn (more…)

Green Jobs: A Guide to Eco-Friendly Employment (Paperback)

You’re interested in going green and, lucky for you, the opportunities for environmentally skilled workers are skyrocketing. Green Jobs will help you to find a job you like-and that’ll make the world a better place. This one-of-a-kind handbook shows you how to: Identify the greenest jobs in every industry Break into the fastest growing eco-friendly fields Go for extra training if needed Start your own eco-friendly businesses Going green just isn’t for recycling any more. (more…)

Cuisinart GreenGourmet Eco-Friendly Nonstick Hard Anodized 12-Piece Cookware Set

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Get everything you need to cook up delicious, healthy meals for your family with this 12-piece set of Cuisinart Green Gourmet Hard Anodized Cookware. Cuisnart’s new energy-efficient and eco-friendly Cermica nonstick surface more than just reduces your carbon footprint–this nonstick coating also allows for easy food release and the ability to use less fat while cooking as well as for use in the oven for browning. This 12-piece set includes an 8-inch skillet, 10-inch deep (more…)

Developing Nuclear Power as Alternative Energy

Many researchers believe that harnessing the power of the atom in fission reactions is the most significant alternative energy resource that we have, for the fact of the immense power that it can generate.

Nuclear power plants are very clean-burning and their efficiency is rather staggering. Nuclear power is generated at 80% efficiency, meaning that the energy produced by the fission reactions is almost equal to the energy put into producing the fission reactions in the first place. There is not a lot of waste material generated by nuclear fissionalthough, due to the fact that there is no such thing as creating energy without also creating some measure of waste, there is some. The concerns of people such as environmentalists with regards to using nuclear power as an alternative energy source center around this waste, which is radioactive gases which have to be contained.

The radiation from these gases lasts for an extraordinarily long time, so it can never be released once contained and stored. However, the volume of this waste gas produced by the nuclear power plants is small in comparison to how much NOx (nitrous oxidethat is, air pollution) is caused by one day’s worth of rush-hour traffic in Los Angeles. While the radiation is certainly the more deadly by far of the two waste materials, the radiation is also by far the easier of the two to contain and store. In spite of the concerns of the environmentalists, nuclear power is actually environmentally friendly alternative energy, and the risk of the contained radiation getting out is actually quite low. With a relatively low volume of waste material produced, it should not be a difficult thing at all for storage and disposal solutions for the long term to be developed as technology advances.

The splitting of an atom releases energy in the forms of both heat and light. Atomic power plants control the fission reactions so that they don’t result in the devastating explosions that are brought forth in atomic and hydrogen bombs. There is no chance of an atomic power plant exploding like a nuclear bomb, as the specialized conditions and the pure Plutonium used to unleash an atomic bomb’s vicious force simply don’t exist inside a nuclear power plant. The risk of a meltdown is very low. Although this latter event has happened a couple of times, when one considers that there are over 430 nuclear reactors spread out across 33 nations, and that nuclear reactors have been in use since the early 1950s, these are rare occurrences, and the events of that nature which have taken place were the fault of outdated materials which should have been properly kept up. Indeed, if nuclear energy could become a more widely accepted form of alternative energy, there would be little question of their upkeep being maintained. Currently, six states in America generate more than half of all their electrical energy needs through nuclear power, and the media are not filled with gruesome horror stories of the power plants constantly having problems.

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