PEACHTREE CITY, GA.—Rinnai Corp., the world’s largest gas appliance manufacturer and leading tankless water heater manufacturer, announced that six models from its line of tankless water heaters have earned the U.S. Department of Energy’s and Environmental Protection Agency’s exclusive Energy Star rating for energy efficiency, including its flagship models, the R94LS and R75LS. Rinnai’s Energy Star qualified products highlight the company’s ongoing commitment to the development and adoption of new energy-efficient technologies, which provide its customers with choices that are both economically and environmentally responsible.
“Water heating presently accounts for 15.5 percent of national residential energy consumption, making it the second-largest energy user in homes,” said Phil Weeks, general manager of Rinnai America Corp. “With rising energy costs and a continued commitment to environmental stewardship, consumers are focused more than ever before on maximizing their homes’ energy efficiency. By developing Energy Star qualified tankless water heaters, Rinnai is helping consumers save money while simultaneously decreasing their carbon footprint.”
Products seeking Energy Star qualification must meet the program’s strict energy efficacy guidelines. In order to be deemed Energy Star qualified, tankless water heaters must maintain a minimum Energy Factor (EF) of 0.82 and a minimum gallons-per-minute flow of 2.5 at a 77-degree Fahrenheit rise. A whole-home gas tankless water heater that meets these requirements is expected to reduce energy use by 30 percent, which can save a consumer approximately $108 in annual energy costs when compared to a typical gas storage water heater. Rinnai pioneered the process to get the Energy Star designation for tankless water heaters.
“Until now, water heaters were the only major residential energy end use without an Energy Star designation,” said Alliance to Save Energy president Kateri Callahan. “Rinnai recognized the benefits an Energy Star designation would bring to residential water heating and played an integral part in the U.S. Department of Energy’s April 2008 decision to establish an Energy Star program for the category.”
In addition to meeting the Energy Star guidelines, Rinnai’s tankless technology possesses other features that both reinforce and enhance its energy efficacy. Unlike traditional tank-style water heaters, which heat and reheat water around the clock, tankless water heaters only produce hot water when needed, shutting off immediately afterwards to eliminate wasted energy. Additionally, Rinnai tankless water heaters last more than twice as long as traditional tank-style models and are constructed of 95 percent recyclable materials, drastically cutting the number of water heaters deposited in landfills each year. By investing in a tankless water heater, consumers can reduce their output of greenhouse gases and conserve otherwise wasted energy, thus decreasing their negative impact on the environment.
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