Pretty big news announcement from the Energy Department today. In what would represent the first change to water heater standards since 2010, the administration is pretty much seeking to replace conventional electric resistance mechanisms with heat pumps . Here are the main points of the proposal via Bloomberg:
“[It] would take affect in 2030, would save consumers some $11.4 billion in energy and water costs annually, while reducing hundreds of millions of tons of greenhouse gas emissions over the rules 30 year lifetime.”
“Under the agency’s proposal, the most commonly-used electric water heaters would be required to use heat pump technology in place of electric resistance, while gas-fired instantaneous water heaters would be required to use condensing technology. The rule also sets standards for gas-fired storage water heaters and oil-fired water storage water heaters as well. Overall, the Energy Department said, the rule would reduce energy use from residential water heaters by 21%.”
“The administration’s past and planned energy efficiency requirements will save American’s $570 billion and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 2.4 billion metric tons over 30 years, the Energy Department said.”
“Still, the Energy Department estimated the water heater rule could cost manufactures more than $228 million in conversion costs to bring products in compliance and $2.2 billion a year in increased product costs, over the rules rule’s 30-year lifetime. The department said the rule would result in far more annual benefits, including nearly $7.9 billion in reduced operating costs a year alone.”
Although any climate change mitigation legislation is sure to be aided by the continent’s frighteningly hot summer, I still expect this proposal to face fierce Republican opposition. I’m interested to hear your predictions on how this will play out, though.