Faster Hot Water Provides Water Conservation - Be Green!

We all do it. Run water down the drain while waiting for hot water. Who is going to jump into the shower when the water is freezing cold! Well no one. Is there a way to avoid running all of that water down the drain?

Yes. A hot water circulating system will eliminate the need to run that water down the drain. There are several types of hot water circulating systems available, and they are fairly easy to understand.

The first type of system is the full-time circulating system. In this type of system the hot water outlet of the water heater connects to a pipe that runs past each fixture in the home, and then back to the water heater. A small pump circulates the hot water through the pipe, thus there is always hot water near every fixture. Instant hot water!

But there is a price to pay! This is an expensive system to operate, since the pump consumes some energy and is running constantly; you have to pay for that energy. But far greater is the expense of heating the water. Heating water is very expensive, and so when you pump it through a long pipe, and the pipe is losing heat energy to the atmosphere around it, you end up spending a lot of money to heat the hot water piping and its immediate surroundings.

You can place the pump on a timer, so that during periods that people don't normally use hot water, the pump is turned off. That helps, but it is still very expensive. Some systems also control the pump by monitoring the temperature of the water. The pump turns off when it reaches a set point, and then back on when the water drops to the lower set point. This reduces the energy consumption by the pump, but does little to reduce the far larger energy losses of the heat loss from the system.

Another problem with these systems is that they require a dedicated return line from the furthest fixture back to the water heater to function. This is an expensive option when building a home, and a far more expensive option to add on to an existing home.

There is another class of hot water circulating systems that do not require a return line. These systems use the cold water line as the return line. The cold water line always connects to the inlet of the water heater, so it will always work. There are a number of approaches being used for these cold water return type hot water circulating systems.

In some instances, for instance, where the water heater is lower than the rest of the system like in homes with a basement, a gravity type system can be used. Since hot water is less dense than cold water, the hot water rises up from the water heater to the fixtures and the cooled off hot water goes down the cold water return line back to the heater. A connection is required between the hot and cold water lines, and a valve that responds to temperatures is installed between them. Without a valve, the hot and cold water would always mix when you used either one.

Some systems use a pump connected between the hot and cold water lines with a built in valve, and as with the full time systems, some are operated via a timer, some are temperature controlled, and some use both methods.

Another type of system is known as a "hot water demand system". With the demand type system, the user must push a button or utilize some other signal to start the pump, and then when hot water reaches the fixture, the pump shuts off.

The demand system is the lowest cost in terms of operating costs since it does not cause any more heat loss than if you just used the hot water fixture without the system. It only pumps when you "demand" hot water. Typically such systems use only $1 to $2 per year in electricity for running the pump.

You obtain your hot water more quickly than if you ran the faucet full blast, and you don't wastefully run water down the drain. You're happy and the environment is happy!

William Lund is a successful inventor and webmaster. For more information about hot water systems and water heaters visit Mr. Lund's website: All About Water Heaters

Mr. Lund also has a blog: Pondering Everything

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Bottled Water Delivery - 5 Tips for Going Green with Convenient Pure Water

Bottled Water Delivery is fast and convenient. Water delivery is also one approach to greener living that consumers are taking advantage of more and more. Bottled water delivery companies work hard to protect the environment, and urge those that enjoy their products to do the same. Throughout the United States many consumers and businesses are electing to purchase bottled drinking water instead of tap or well water, whether from the grocery store in single-serve containers or from a bottled delivery service.

The bottled drinking water that is provided by delivery services typically comes in 3 or 5-gallon bottles that can be used by the consumer, then picked up by the water bottle provider, sanitized, sterilized, repackaged, and sent back to the consumer. Taking advantage of a water delivery service at home and in the office, as well as promoting and recycling plastic bottles, are two ways in which you can go green.

Taking advantage of a bottled water delivery service at home and in the office, as well as promoting and recycling plastic bottles, are two ways in which you can go green.

Tip # 1 Delivery from a Nearby Supplier

For water delivery at the office, compare the prices of national and local delivery services. Because the cost of delivered bottled water is heavily influenced by the cost of transportation, a supplier located close to your home or office will give you the best service and delivered price.

Find out if a delivery of bottled water is available in your zip code area and request bottled water and dispensers. Discover the various bottled water sizes and quantities available for delivery to office. 5 Gallon is the most convenient and economical. The industry was founded by utilizing the reusable container system of the Home and Office (HOD) delivery segment.

The bottled water that is provided by bottled delivery services typically comes in 3 or 5-gallon bottles that can be used by the consumer, then picked up by the water bottle provider, sanitized, sterilized, repackaged, and sent back to the consumer.

Bottled water offers a healthy alternative to other beverages that container sugar and calories or tap water that contains contaminants, and home and office water delivery offers ease and convenience to consumers and businesses. Among the types of bottled water, spring water is subject to the same contaminants as tap water. The only difference is that the chlorine taste and odor is filtered out.

A small number of suppliers offer purified water which is required by law to be 99.9% pure. Purified water is better for your family's health and the environment and costs no more than spring water.

Recycling plastic bottles or using a bottled water delivery service that offers purified water, sanitizes bottles and then recycles them is a much better alternative for you, your family and the environment.

Tip # 2 Office and Home Delivery

Simplify water purchases with office delivery with the same water you receive at home. Better prices are usually available for home delivery if you are an employee of an office delivery customer.

Bottled water has become a fixture in today's business environment, as common an office amenity as free coffee and Internet access. Information on home and office delivery programs is available on the web from some water delivery suppliers. Taking advantage of a water delivery service at home and in the office, as well as promoting and recycling plastic bottles, are two ways in which you can go green.

Tip # 3 - Bigger is not Always Better

Bottled water delivery is basically a service business and the supplier must be sensitive to the needs of the customer for changes in the number of bottles, suspension of deliveries during vacation times and other matters that are important to the customer.

Unfortunately, the largest suppliers usually offer the worst customer service. Do some research and ask around about the level of after sale customer service. Whatever you do, do NOT sign a contract with penalties for early cancellation.

Contracts are usually required by the largest suppliers and these contracts encourage sloppy service without fear of cancellation.

Tip # 4 - Order Online For Convenience

E-commerce on the Internet is a fast, convenient and safe way to order. By shopping online you can usually find the best deal and avoid the requirement of signing an unfair contract. Some companies are fully automated in a way that lets you order any time of the day.

Many suppliers, however, do not offer this service. In addition to convenience, with modern credit card technology like SSL, your purchase is risk free. On certain purchases, no sales tax is charged and this is an additional benefit.

Tip # 5 - Make Sure You Get the latest in Bottles and Accessories

The bottled water business is constantly changing with new products and accessories that make use of the product more safe and convenient. For example, new cooler technology totally eliminates water spills and, along with spill proof caps, provides convenient and sanitary water supplies.

Bottles with safety handles are another innovation to ensure that changing bottles is easy and safe. For larger users accessories like bottle racks allow the stacking of bottles in a convenient and organized way.

Unfortunately, not all suppliers offer these types of accessories because larger companies have extensive inventories of bottles and caps in the field and will not change out this inventory until the useful life of the bottles is over.

Ask any potential supplier about the design of the bottles and accessories.

Going Green

Contrary to what the general public often believes, the bottled water industry was among the first to begin recycling plastic bottles. The bottled water that is provided by bottled delivery services typically comes in 3 or 5-gallon bottles that can be used by the consumer, then picked up by the water bottle provider, sanitized, sterilized, repackaged, and sent back to the consumer.

Recycling plastic bottles or using a water delivery service that sanitizes bottles and then recycles them is a much better alternative for you, your family and the environment. Recycling plastic bottles or using a bottled water delivery service that sanitizes bottles and then recycles them is an important step in creating a green environment.

Water delivery is one approach to greener living that consumers are taking advantage of more and more.

Jon M. Stout is Chairman of the Board of Element H2O an Ultra Pure bottled water company located in Chantilly, Virginia. For more information about bottled water, private label bottled water [http://www.elementh2o.com/Store] and bottled water delivery [http://www.elementh2o.com/local] go to the Element H2O website.

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