Comments on: Automatically Preheat Water to Save Energy http://greenbuildingelements.com/2008/05/29/automatically-preheat-water-to-save-energy/ Reporting on Sustainably Built Environments from Bricks to Cities Fri, 03 Feb 2012 01:57:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: James Smith João Pessoa, Brazil http://greenbuildingelements.com/2008/05/29/automatically-preheat-water-to-save-energy/comment-page-1/#comment-112371 James Smith João Pessoa, Brazil Wed, 01 Dec 2010 12:02:12 +0000 http://greenbuildingelements.com/2008/05/29/automatically-preheat-water-to-save-energy/#comment-112371 An excellent idea for those with less-than-efficient water heating. Here in Brazil, we use a different method. Instead of heating 60-80 gallons of water all the time, we have individual heaters on shower head. Heating a couple of gallons right when and where you need it is far more efficient. You can see an example of this at about 2:38 into this video: http://vimeo.com/17324477 Also, Brazilians tend to take cooler showers than most Americans. Heated water elsewhere is not common, either. For example, in my kitchen and laundry areas, there is no hot water at all. Washing dishes is a good example. If the water were hot enough to actually kill bacteria, you could not put your hands in it. If you have a dishwasher, they heat their own water anyway. I have washed clothes in cold water for decades and have never had a problem getting anything clean. Cold water only for the washing machine has never been a problem. When I lived in the USA, I normally did not even connect the hot water hose to a washing machine. Using hot water for everything is more of a cultural habit than a law of nature. An excellent idea for those with less-than-efficient water heating. Here in Brazil, we use a different method. Instead of heating 60-80 gallons of water all the time, we have individual heaters on shower head. Heating a couple of gallons right when and where you need it is far more efficient.

You can see an example of this at about 2:38 into this video:
http://vimeo.com/17324477

Also, Brazilians tend to take cooler showers than most Americans. Heated water elsewhere is not common, either. For example, in my kitchen and laundry areas, there is no hot water at all. Washing dishes is a good example. If the water were hot enough to actually kill bacteria, you could not put your hands in it. If you have a dishwasher, they heat their own water anyway.

I have washed clothes in cold water for decades and have never had a problem getting anything clean. Cold water only for the washing machine has never been a problem. When I lived in the USA, I normally did not even connect the hot water hose to a washing machine. Using hot water for everything is more of a cultural habit than a law of nature.

]]> By: Bob http://greenbuildingelements.com/2008/05/29/automatically-preheat-water-to-save-energy/comment-page-1/#comment-26297 Bob Mon, 23 Mar 2009 16:49:57 +0000 http://greenbuildingelements.com/2008/05/29/automatically-preheat-water-to-save-energy/#comment-26297 What issues would there be with clogging within the coil? What issues would there be with clogging within the coil?

]]> By: Bob http://greenbuildingelements.com/2008/05/29/automatically-preheat-water-to-save-energy/comment-page-1/#comment-98078 Bob Mon, 23 Mar 2009 16:49:00 +0000 http://greenbuildingelements.com/2008/05/29/automatically-preheat-water-to-save-energy/#comment-98078 What issues would there be with clogging within the coil? What issues would there be with clogging within the coil?

]]> By: Philip Proefrock http://greenbuildingelements.com/2008/05/29/automatically-preheat-water-to-save-energy/comment-page-1/#comment-9196 Philip Proefrock Fri, 12 Sep 2008 20:47:24 +0000 http://greenbuildingelements.com/2008/05/29/automatically-preheat-water-to-save-energy/#comment-9196 Contact the photographer, Chad Miller, for other resolutions and uses of the image from this article. In general, credit and contact information for images used in all articles is listed at the bottom of the article. Contact the photographer, Chad Miller, for other resolutions and uses of the image from this article. In general, credit and contact information for images used in all articles is listed at the bottom of the article.

]]> By: Philip Proefrock http://greenbuildingelements.com/2008/05/29/automatically-preheat-water-to-save-energy/comment-page-1/#comment-98077 Philip Proefrock Fri, 12 Sep 2008 20:47:00 +0000 http://greenbuildingelements.com/2008/05/29/automatically-preheat-water-to-save-energy/#comment-98077 Contact the photographer, Chad Miller, for other resolutions and uses of the image from this article. In general, credit and contact information for images used in all articles is listed at the bottom of the article. Contact the photographer, Chad Miller, for other resolutions and uses of the image from this article. In general, credit and contact information for images used in all articles is listed at the bottom of the article.

]]> By: Kathy http://greenbuildingelements.com/2008/05/29/automatically-preheat-water-to-save-energy/comment-page-1/#comment-9188 Kathy Fri, 12 Sep 2008 20:28:31 +0000 http://greenbuildingelements.com/2008/05/29/automatically-preheat-water-to-save-energy/#comment-9188 May I get a high resolution copy of this photo of a woman showering? I need one for for a hydrotherapy display next weekend for the North Olympic Peninsula Health Fair. Thanks, Kathy May I get a high resolution copy of this photo of a woman showering? I need one for for a hydrotherapy display next weekend for the North Olympic Peninsula Health Fair. Thanks, Kathy

]]> By: Kathy http://greenbuildingelements.com/2008/05/29/automatically-preheat-water-to-save-energy/comment-page-1/#comment-98076 Kathy Fri, 12 Sep 2008 20:28:00 +0000 http://greenbuildingelements.com/2008/05/29/automatically-preheat-water-to-save-energy/#comment-98076 May I get a high resolution copy of this photo of a woman showering? I need one for for a hydrotherapy display next weekend for the North Olympic Peninsula Health Fair. Thanks, Kathy May I get a high resolution copy of this photo of a woman showering? I need one for for a hydrotherapy display next weekend for the North Olympic Peninsula Health Fair. Thanks, Kathy

]]> By: Copeland http://greenbuildingelements.com/2008/05/29/automatically-preheat-water-to-save-energy/comment-page-1/#comment-3661 Copeland Tue, 03 Jun 2008 01:40:48 +0000 http://greenbuildingelements.com/2008/05/29/automatically-preheat-water-to-save-energy/#comment-3661 Excellent system, and for myself, read just in the nick of time to evaluate and add to our <a href="http://www.greenmodernkits.com" rel="nofollow">modern prefab house kit</a> prototype that we're building... now, so this really was perfect timing! Thanks for the great information! Excellent system, and for myself, read just in the nick of time to evaluate and add to our modern prefab house kit prototype that we’re building… now, so this really was perfect timing!

Thanks for the great information!

]]> By: Copeland http://greenbuildingelements.com/2008/05/29/automatically-preheat-water-to-save-energy/comment-page-1/#comment-98075 Copeland Tue, 03 Jun 2008 01:40:00 +0000 http://greenbuildingelements.com/2008/05/29/automatically-preheat-water-to-save-energy/#comment-98075 Excellent system, and for myself, read just in the nick of time to evaluate and add to our <a href="http://www.greenmodernkits.com" rel="nofollow">modern prefab house kit</a> prototype that we're building... now, so this really was perfect timing! Thanks for the great information! Excellent system, and for myself, read just in the nick of time to evaluate and add to our modern prefab house kit prototype that we’re building… now, so this really was perfect timing!

Thanks for the great information!

]]>