Water Heaters: Out with the Old, In with the New...

 

Photo: BHI Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning

With better technology, comes better products.  Not just from an operational (easy to use) standpoint, but an increase in efficiency is expected too.  Although, some residents do not like 'new' and want their old system available for replacement with an equivalent old one too.  What to do about 'old?'

At the beginning of the new year of 2021, the outgoing Trump administration left yet another stain on the environment.  Yes, the Trump administration was good at leaving 'stains' all over the environment like a baby is great at soiling a diaper.  The two share in common the process of 'dumping' very efficiently.

With that in mind, the outgoing Trump administration put in place a stay order to allow the use of inefficient water heaters.  That is, to allow, old water heaters to be sold on the market.  A market that is changing toward promoting more efficient water heaters.  Not only more efficient but better all around.  Although, the cost is slightly higher.  That is the price (initial) of overall efficiency. 

According to reporting by Politico Energy, the State Attorney General of New York filed for a review of the order by the Trump administration:

AGs CALL ON COURT TO UNDO TRUMP RULES: Twelve state attorneys general are calling on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit to review and vacate two final actions of the Trump administration that allow less-efficient water heaters and home furnaces to remain on the market. The group, led by New York AG Tish James, filed the petition for review Tuesday, opposing the final Trump Energy Department rule that determined use of non-condensing technology in gas-fired residential furnaces and commercial water heaters would constitute a performance-related "feature" under the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, thus allowing it to avoid adopting energy efficiency standards. State AGs previously argued that interpretation of a "feature" is inconsistent with the EPCA.

The official statement can be found by clicking here.

The time has come to accept that efficiency is the new opportunity.  And that the opportunity to have a new system comes at a slightly higher cost.  The initial investment will pay off.  Watch the monthly costs associated with the new equipment/instrument.  The savings might not be immediate, but the long-term savings is there.  And that is worth all of the initial investment headaches.