Electronic management tool takes big bite out of energy use

Whether a building has a tank or tankless water heater, the water in the lines between the water heater and the fixture loses heat. Depending on how long those lines are, it may take many seconds for hot water to run through the pipes to reach the fixtures.

All that water goes down the drain, including the energy used to move it, treat it and heat it, as well as the energy used to process it as sewage.

Hot water recirculation pumps reduce the wait for hot water to next to nothing. 

At the 2015 Greenbuild Expo, Michael Burch of Advanced Conservation Technology (ACT), Inc. D'MAND talked about the company's product that saves water and energy, and delivers hot water when you want it.

Burch said the product is desireable because it: 

• Reduces electricity used for pumping by 90 percent
• Minizes run time of pump by one to two hours over 24 hours 
• Features life expectancy of up to 15 years