Climate change, the price of oil and natural resource management top the list of concerns many individuals have in today's fast-paced world. The price of oil has risen in dramatic fashion to reach record levels, peaking in the summer of 2008. Indications are that the high price of oil is here to stay as supply cannot keep up with demand. World scientists have been sounding the alarm bell for over two decades as analysis shows that greenhouse gases are being released into the atmosphere at a far greater rate than the planet can handle. Yet many governments continue to ignore the warnings and individuals either assume it is someone else's problem or are too lacksidaisical. Natural resources such as fossil fuels and water are being consumed at an unsustainable rate and will likely leave future generations with no resources. With all this going on, what can we, as concerned individuals, do to reduce our ecological footprints?

The place to start is to cut back on home energy use. By doing so, less electricity and/or fossil fuels are generally required thus helping out in a small but necessary way. The first step is to have an energy assessment done on your home by a qualified consultant. The assessment will consider air leakage from your home and other factors such as furnace and air conditioner efficiency. In some areas, government grants are available to fix any deficiencies found as a result of the energy assessment.

Apart from the energy assessment and subsequent corrective actions, there are other ways of reducing home energy use, including reduction of energy required to heat water. Many people are unaware that the act of heating water typically accounts for up to 20% of total home energy use. There are several initiatives that can be taken to reduce your hot water demands, particularly if you have a hot water tank.

The most obvious improvement is to retrofit (or replace) your existing water heater with a solar water heater. In most cases this can be practically achieved with the expectation of eliminating 50% or more of your home energy use due to hot water. The main drawback is the high price of solar water heaters. Recovery of the initial cost can take 10 - 20 or more years depending upon your location and climate.

Another improvement, if not already implemented, is to install energy-efficient showerheads. This can cut your hot water shower use by up to 35%.

Check the insulation rating of your hot water tank. If it is R-10 or less and the hot water tank is located in an unfinished basement (or garage) then consider installing an insulation blanket around the tank. Call a professional if you are uncertain how to install the blanket. Make sure that the hot water pipe is insulated all the way from the tank until it goes up through the ceiling to the next floor. This will keep the water in the pipe hot or at least warm.

If you have a natural gas water heater then you should drain a pail of water from the hot water tank every three months or as recommended by the manufacturer. This will remove sediment that reduces heat transfer and lowers efficiency.

If you have an electric water heater then consider installing a water heater timer. The water heater can be turned on for periods of high use and off at other times. A manual switch allows water heating at any time. For frequently used taps consider installing a local on-demand water heater. This will reduce the waiting time for hot water, resulting in less energy and less wasted water.

Most residential hot water heaters are generally set at 60 C (140 F). There are many advocates suggesting that the temperature be lowered from 60 C down to 49 C. The advantages include less energy use and lower risk of injury due to scalding. The lower temperature has already been mandated in some countries.

Unfortunately, reducing the storage temperature to under 50 C significantly increases the risk of bacterial growth in the water tank, resulting in possibility of Legionnaires' disease. If you wish to lower the temperature then don't go below 54 C. The possibility of injury due to scalding can be minimized by following a set routine for turning on and off the hot and cold water and educating children in the safe use and dangers of hot water.

In conclusion, there are many hot water initiatives you can undertake to improve your home energy efficiency. One small but necessary step in the battle against climate change.