flexiblefullpage
billboard
interstitial1
catfish1
Currently Reading

Efficient electric water heaters in multifamily buildings significantly reduce carbon emissions

Codes and Standards

Efficient electric water heaters in multifamily buildings significantly reduce carbon emissions

In buildings with 5+ units, water heating uses more energy than space heating, cooling, or lighting.


By Peter Fabris, Contributing Editor | November 28, 2021
Water heater

Courtesy Pixabay

Efficient electric hot water heating technologies significantly reduce the carbon emissions of multifamily buildings, according to a report by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) and New Buildings Institute (NBI).

In multifamily buildings with five or more units, water heating uses more energy than space heating, cooling, or lighting, the report says. Converting gas-fired water heaters to advanced technology—electric heat pump water heaters (HPWHs)—would cut greenhouse gas emissions from water heating by an average of 58%.

If HPWHs are powered entirely by clean sources, they cause zero emissions, making them a critical tool for decarbonizing the economy. Efficient electric water heaters carry a higher upfront cost over gas models, so policymakers would have to provide incentives to owners to make the conversion, the report says.

“Many utilities offer incentives for building or unit owners to install in-unit heat pump hot water heaters,” an ACEEE/NBI news release says. “Yet few programs are designed specifically for multifamily buildings, which offer unique challenges.”

Related Stories

Codes and Standards | Jan 25, 2019

AEC professionals should push for net zero projects

Educate and lead clients to more sustainable choices, says LEED fellow.

Codes and Standards | Jan 24, 2019

OSHA unaffected by federal government shutdown

Agency fully funded for first nine months of 2019.

Codes and Standards | Jan 23, 2019

Hackers can easily take control of construction cranes

Potential for serious harm is real, say researchers.

Codes and Standards | Jan 22, 2019

Initiative will introduce open-source software for commercial and public building retrofits

Energy analysis tool will identify energy efficiency opportunities.

Codes and Standards | Jan 18, 2019

Texas city sues developer over changes in $1 billion mixed-use project

Revised plan eliminated 8-acre lagoon, trolley, show fountain, and reduced retail space.

Codes and Standards | Jan 17, 2019

First resilience benchmarks for U.S. communities released

Provides way to evaluate current state of resilience and guidance for areas of improvement.

Codes and Standards | Jan 16, 2019

California mass timber building competition kicks off January 15

Competition will award $500,000 in grants to teams who design innovative buildings.

Codes and Standards | Jan 15, 2019

Hazard mitigation provisions in codes save lives and protect property

New NIBS study finds that adopting 2018 Intl. Codes generate $11 benefit for every $1 invested.

Codes and Standards | Jan 10, 2019

Ontario building first to achieve zero-carbon designation by Canada GBC

Geothermal heating, living wall among notable features.

Codes and Standards | Jan 9, 2019

Policymakers need to act to alleviate affordable housing crunch

Moody’s economist says costs including mortgage rates worsening situation.

boombox1
boombox2
native1

More In Category

Sustainability

Grimshaw launches free online tool to help accelerate decarbonization of buildings

Minoro, an online platform to help accelerate the decarbonization of buildings, was recently launched by architecture firm Grimshaw, in collaboration with more than 20 supporting organizations including World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), RIBA, Architecture 2030, the World Green Building Council (WorldGBC) and several national Green Building Councils from across the globe.




halfpage1

Most Popular Content

  1. 2021 Giants 400 Report
  2. Top 150 Architecture Firms for 2019
  3. 13 projects that represent the future of affordable housing
  4. Sagrada Familia completion date pushed back due to coronavirus
  5. Top 160 Architecture Firms 2021