Although it is not financially feasible at this time to replace a natural gas hot water system with a solar hot water system (read solar hot water vs. natural gas hot water here), hot water conservation practices will save energy and dollars for home and business owners who use natural gas to heat water. 

1. Use cold water for cleaning.

2. Use cold water for washing clothes. There are many detergents formulated for washing in cold water. Also, there are times that cold water does not set a stain that hot water might set.

3. If washing dishes by hand, rinse in cold water.

4. Use cold water to operate your garbage disposal. That is the recommendation of most disposal manufacturers.

5. Do not run hot water needlessly.

6. Many new water heaters have a "vacation" setting you can use to save energy if you're away for more than a few days. Turn the thermostat "down" or "off" when you're gone for more than three days.

7. Once your water is hot, insulation will help keep it that way. 

• Wrap exposed hot water pipes with insulation. This  minimizes heat loss, particularly if pipes run through unconditioned areas. Even insulating the first three or four feet of pipes entering and leaving the tank can help. 

• If your hot water heater is old or is hot to the touch, consider installing an R-12 insulation blanket around your hot water storage tank, However, modern hot water tanks are well-insulated and additional insulation will not save a large amount of energy. Plus, some manufacturers do not recommend wrapping the tank so read and follow the instructions. 

8. Teach your children good conservation practices.

Conservation of Water and Energy 

Solar Hot Water vs. Natural Gas Hot Water

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