Your Guide to Hot Water Savings

Try these inexpensive projects for significant hot water savings and get the best value for
your investment with our buying tips.

Is your current showerhead energy efficient?

Try this simple flow test: open an empty 2L cardboard milk carton and hold it up to the shower while it is fully on. If it fills in less than 10 seconds, it is not energy efficient and you should consider replacing it.

Install a new energy-efficient showerhead

• Prices vary, but the cost is usually recovered from energy savings in less than one year. Look for features such as spray adjustments, spray pattern and coverage, forcefulness, quiet operation, and ease of cleaning.
• This reduces hot water use by up to 30% and can save over 28,000 litres per year.
• Taking shorter showers instead of baths saves both energy and water. For instance, two people could save over $30 per year by shortening their shower by one minute each.

Keep the insulating tank cover clear

• Be sure to keep the insulating tank cover clear of the air inlet for burners and the temperature controls.
• If you rent your hot water tank, check the rental agreement and consult your retailer before making changes.

Insulate hot water pipes

• Insulate at least the few metres of pipe leading to and from the hot water tank with tape wrap or snap-on foam pipe tubing.
• If your hot water pipes run through sections of your home that are not heated, insulate them too.
• Plastic pipes should not be wrapped – the extra heat might soften them.

Looking for a new dishwasher or washing machine?

• It pays to read the EnerGuide label and comparison shop for the most energy-efficient model. Remember: the lower the kWh rating, the better the efficiency.
• Appliances last for many years, and the “second price tag” – the cost of running the appliance – can add up to more than the initial purchase price. Use the EnerGuide label to help you shop smart.