Today, customers want their plumbers and contractors to provide recommendations on how they can save money on their water heaters.  The equipment has the second largest energy consumption in the home. We’re hoping you’d be interested in developing a story for Official Magazine on resources that plumbers and contractors can use to help their customers select water heaters that save money and help the environment with US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ENERGY STAR.

Contractors can distinguish themselves from their competitors by tapping into resources provided by EPA ENERGY STAR programs to help consumers assess the benefits of these products and select the most appropriate options. ENERGY STAR has several free resources to help including:
• Incentives and rebates listed on the ENERGY STAR website (visit www.energystar.gov/rebatefinder and www.energystar.gov/taxcredits or go to Frequently Asked Questions, then select Tax Credits/ Rebates/ Financing/ Grants). 
• Incentive Programs from utility companies. (See below: Incentives from Utility Orgs & States for Energy Star Qualified Residential Water Heaters)
• Information on manufacturers offering training programs for plumbers and contractors on the installation and sales of ENERGY STAR qualified products, such as the Accredited GreenPlumbers Training Program
• A list of ENERGY STAR qualified product models that plumbers and contractors can recommend for client renovations.  
 
Americans Save $18 Billion with ENERGY STAR Products
In 2010 alone, Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved nearly $18 billion on their utility bills while reducing greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to the annual emissions from 33 million vehicles.
 
ENERGY STAR provides residential water heater manufacturers, contractors, and plumbers with resources and tools to help them promote high-efficiency products that save money and deliver the same or better performance as comparable products. Today, EPA’s ENERGY STAR label is one of the highest influencing labels in the market place. And, ENERGY STAR provides free marketing resources for those working with qualified products.
 
Tax Credits And Rebates For Energy Star Qualified Residential Water Heaters
Today, homeowners can benefit from a $300 federal tax rebate for gas tankless and heat pump water heaters, as well as a tax credit for 30% of the installed cost of solar thermal. Many states offer additional incentives for these technologies (see also www.DSIREUSA.org)

Incentives from Utility Orgs & States for Energy Star Qualified Residential Water Heaters
More than 700 utility and state energy efficiency programs are promoting ENERGY STAR to households nationwide and offering rebates and incentives to their consumers. Many gas and electric utilities offer rebates specifically for installation on ENERGY STAR qualified water heaters and educate homeowners on the benefits of these units.
 
For example, Center Point Energy in Minnesota who has over 250 contractors in their network, offers a rebate of $100 on high efficiency ENERGY STAR qualified residential natural gas water heaters. This year to date they have rebated over 900 ENERGY STAR qualified residential water heaters. Additionally in a recent survey of rebate participants they conducted, two-thirds of respondents were aware that ENERGY STAR natural gas water heaters were available and one-third were made aware of rebate offer through their plumber.
 
For more information on incentive programs available from your utility, visit the Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE). CEE tracks utility incentive programs for gas water heaters and rebates can be found on the on the Residential Gas water Heating Program Summary 2011 page.
 
More Manufacturer Trainings Programs For Plumbers and Contractors
Increasingly, plumbing contractors are taking advantage of energy and water efficiency training programs such as the Accredited GreenPlumbers Training Program to better serve energy aware customers. GreenPlumbers Residential audit calculates energy and water savings for new high efficient product installations, including ENERGY STAR qualified water heaters. Plumbing contractors can then work with homeowners to deliver the best ENERGY STAR qualified product and maximize the consumer’s return on investment.

About ENERGY STAR

The ENERGY STAR brand is a powerful tool to help consumers save energy and money. Through programs such as the Residential Water Heater program, ENERGY STAR helps consumers save money and protect the environment with energy-efficient products and practices. In fall 2011, EPA will roll out an MS Excel-based savings calculator to help contractors and consumers alike calculate the benefits of ENERGY STAR qualified water heaters, as well as the payback period. In January 2009, the ENERGY STAR program for residential water heaters was established.  Plumbers and contractors offering their customers more energy-efficient products are tapping into the growing base of energy-aware homeowners.

ENERGY STAR was introduced by EPA in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. Today, the ENERGY STAR label can be found on more than 60 different kinds of products including lighting, appliances, TVs, computers and other office equipment, and consumer electronics; homes; and schools and commercial buildings. Products that have earned the ENERGY STAR prevent greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy-efficiency specifications set by the government. For information and resources on ENERGY STAR qualified water heaters and other products, visit www.ENERGYSTAR.gov