Use drain-water heat-recovery systems to preheat water
Without it, energy dollars go right down the drain
A heat-recovery system captures heat from drain-water that would otherwise be lost. The simplest systems consist of a section of copper drain line wrapped with copper tubing and no storage tanks. These systems recover heat only when water is being drawn simultaneously (for a shower, for example). These are still quite cost effective, and have no moving parts to fail. One potential pitfall: A heat-recovery system could actually lead to increased water use for showers because the hot water won't run out as quickly.
Green points
NGBSNational Green Building Standard Based on the NAHB Model Green Home Building Guidelines and passed through ANSI. This standard can be applied to both new homes, remodeling projects, and additions. /ICC-700: 2 points for a drain-water heat recovery system in a multi-family unit.
Learn more in the Green Building Encyclopedia
