Episode 4 :: Choosing an energy efficient hot water system
[Animated opening sequence, music and title: EECA ENERGYWISE: The Energy Spot]
We open on Jared. He's sitting on a diving board over a swimming pool. He's emptying a hot water bottle into the pool. He says:
Did you know how much hot water a family of four uses each year? Around 70,000 litres. That's equal to...
We pull back to reveal a lot of hot water bottles, all filled up, and stacked on the ground behind him.
... 70,000 hot water bottles!
Together, we all use enough hot water in a year to fill 33,000 olympic size swimming pools.
We cut to Jared who says:
Hot water heating is around 30% of your energy bill. So having an energy efficient hot water system makes sense.
We now cut to see Jared is at a house that is being renovated.
If you're building, renovating or when the time is right, it's worth taking a look at the options.
We see a new water heating system that's been installed. Now we see Jared in a different part of the renovation. He's with a dog, Buster.
If it's just you and your best mate, you may not need too much hot water. But if you've got a family of seven, who all want showers in the morning, you'll want an efficient system that can cope.
We cut to see Jared on his laptop, we zoom in on the screen to the Hot Water Systems page - we see a graph showing costs of various water heating options as well as several images of different systems including solar hot water system. Jared says to us:
Look into all the options, and compare systems that are right for your household.
Cut to Jared next to a tap. He turns it on, we cut to Jared as he says:
Here's a tip: check the water temperature at the tap. If its more than 55 degrees it's unsafe, and you could be using more energy than you need to.
Jared is in a kitchen as he sums up by saying:
Efficient hot water systems give you hot water you need, save you money and conserve our country's resources.
[Animated ending sequence and music, The Energy Spot]
Logo: EECA ENERGYWISE - THE POWER TO CHOOSE
EECA recommends seeking professional advice where appropriate.
You will need an electrician to adjust your hot water thermostat.
Logo: New Zealand Government