In a typical Canadian home, water heating is the second biggest energy user after space heating, accounting for up to 22% of total annual energy use. The list of tips below will help you to lower your energy use by installing some basic water-saving devices, adjusting your water-using habits, and selecting an energy-efficient water heater appropriately sized to meet your needs.

If buying a new water heater, consult the expanded EnerGuide produced by Natural Resources Canada for information on different options for water heating and which would be most efficient for your household.

For further information on how you can heat your water more efficiently, please consult Natural Resource Canada's Office of Energy Efficiency (OEE).

Tips

Temperature setting
•Lower the temperature of your hot water heater to 50ºC. Quick Fact: 1

Limit heat loss
•Wrap your water heater tank with an insulation blanket to reduce energy losses anywhere from 25% to 40%. Quick Fact: 1
•Insulate the first 2 metres of hot water pipes and the first metre of cold water pipes.

Reduce heating needs
•Reduce water heating needs by using less water: install low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators, and buy energy- and water-efficient appliances. Quick Fact: 1
•Ask your boiler contractor for a quote on a “tankless coil” set up for your new boiler so that it can also be used to heat water: most boilers can heat water at a much higher efficiency than average gas hot water tanks.

New water heater
•If buying a new water heater, consider a demand (tankless) water heater to reduce energy consumption and make sure it is EnerGuide qualified. Quick Fact: 1, 2
•Consider installing a solar water heater for your home. Quick Fact: 1
•When installing a new hot water tank or designing a new home make sure that you place the unit as close as possible to the kitchen, laundry and bathrooms to reduce heat loss from long pipes. Thin pipes are also more energy efficient than thicker pipes, since they trap less water. Quick Fact: 1