Daily Home Renovation Tips每日家装修秘诀

Today we begin a series of articles on our experience with obtaining a tankless water heater.今天，我们开始了一系列的文章，就我们的经验与取得tankless热水器。 At first I thought it would be a one article or at most a two part series, but as I started to write this the words kept flowing on the many different aspects.起初我以为这会是一个一篇文章，或在最一两个系列的一部分，但正如我开始写这个字眼不断流动对许多不同的方面。

So, let’s start at the beginning, shall we?所以，让我们先在开始时，我们应？ Always a good place to start.始终是一个好地方开始。

As our frequent visitors know we are participating in the ecoENERGY Retrofit program and have already had our initial作为我们的常客都知道我们正在参加在该ecoenergy改造计划，并已初步 energy audit能源审计 . 。 It was from the audit report we received that we learned a great many things about reducing the consumption of non-renewable resources in the home, so much so that we still say our number 1 tip for a home renovation of any kind is to first obtain an energy audit.这是从审计报告我们已收到，我们学到了很多东西，约减少消费不可再生资源在家里，以致我们仍然说，我们的人数一提示一个家装修的任何一种，是先取得一能源审核。

Now, one of the recommendations in the energy audit report was about the现在，其中一项建议是在能源审计报告是关于 replacement of our hot water tank with an instantaneous, or tankless, gas water heater with an energy factor (EF) of 0.8 or better更换我们的热水罐与一瞬时，或tankless ，燃气热水器与能源因素（英法） 0.8或更好 . 。 At the time, late 2007, the available financial incentive from the Federal Government was $200 and the matching incentive from our Provincial Government was also $200.在时间，于2007年年底，现有的财务诱因，由联邦政府和200元的配套奖励从我们省政府还200元。 More about this matching grant later.更多关于此等额补助金后。

Now, as you likely know tankless water heaters only use electricity or propane or natural gas (depending on the model) to heat the water when someone wants to use hot water.现在，正如你可能知道tankless热水器仅使用电力或丙烷或天然气（视模型）加热水，当有人想用热水。 No energy is used to heat the water otherwise.没有能源是用来加热水，否则。 This compares to what in North America is the traditional hot water tank which is constantly heating the water regardless if someone is taking a shower, or bath or…..与此相比，以什么在北美地区是传统的热水箱是不断加热水，如果有人，无论是采取淋浴，或浴缸或… .. or not.或没有。

That Energy Factor of 0.80 or better refers to the efficiency of the tankless unit in using the energy source to heat the water.能源的因素， 0.80或更好的指效率的tankless单位在使用的能量来源加热水。 To qualify for the grant, we would need to install one of the more efficient variety.资格授予，我们将需要安装一个更有效率的品种。

We know nothing about tankless water heaters.我们一无所知tankless热水器。 I do remember from my many visits to western Europe over the years that tankless water heaters are the norm.我记得从我多次访问西欧，多年来这tankless热水器的规范。 And, a lot of countries in western Europe have the same cold climate as where we live, so why wouldn’t they work here in North America.和，很多国家在西欧的有同样的寒冷气候，我们的生活，为什么他们不会在这里工作，在北美。

However, I am a pragmatist, meaning that I need proof.不过，我是一个实用主义者，也就是说，我需要证明。 So, I went to the closest sources available to me, the Internet.所以，我到最接近的现有来源对我来说，在互联网上。 I went to this forum and that, to this web site and that.我到这个论坛，这个网站和。 And, that is how I was introduced to many of the web sites that are now included within our Energy Conservation blog roll over on the left hand side.和，即是如何，我介绍了很多网站现在包括我们的能源节约博客辊超过就在左手边。

I learned that many favoured natural gas over electric type of tankless water heaters as natural gas was more efficient.我了解到许多赞成天然气电动类型的tankless热水器作为天然气更有效率。 I also learned that there are various capacities of these devices and installing one that is too small, yes, can result in insufficient hot water when you want it; say when the teenager is having a 30 minute shower and you are also taking one before you go off to work!我也了解到，有各种各样的能力，这些设备和安装是一个太小了，是的，可能会导致热水不足，当您想要它;时说，该少年是有一个30分钟的淋浴间和你也以一之前，请先去工作！

So, I was determined that if we were to convert from our current hot water tank to an instantaneous hot water device it would be (A) of the natural gas variety and (B) sufficiently large so we would not face an issue of insufficient hot water.所以，我确定，如果我们要转换，从我们目前的热水箱，以一瞬时热水装置，这将是： （一）天然气品种及（ b ）足够大，所以我们不会面对一个不足的问题热点水。

I like to think of myself as also being frugal.我喜欢认为自己也正在俭朴。 Being a former professional accountant, I need financial payback in a sufficiently short time.作为一个前专业会计师，我需要的金融投资回报，在有足够短的时间内。 Yes, I have become much more conscious of reducing consumption of non-renewable resources.是的，我已经变得更加自觉减少消费，不可再生资源。 However, no one is going to put food on my table if it costs me so much to have installed an energy conservation device that I run out of money.然而，没有人去把食物对我的表，如果它的成本我这么多已经安装了一个节约能源的设备，我一发不可收拾的钱。 And, since these are not as wide spread in North America, I need to make sure that I have a reputable installation company perform the work for me so I don’t have to worry about what to do if it stops to work.而且，由于这些都不是广泛分布在北美，我要确保我有一个有信誉的安装公司执行的工作为我，所以我不用担心怎么做，如果它停止工作。

Therefore, I also included the additional conditions that (C) the installation would be from a company I could trust and (D) I needed financial payback in under 5 years….preferably 4 years or less (financial payback is the number of years it takes to realize actual savings equal to the total cost of the project).因此，我还包括额外的条件， （三）安装会从一间公司我可以信任和（ d ）我需要的财务回报下，在五年… … 。最好是四年或更少（财务回报是数年，它需要实现的实际储蓄相等于该项目的总费用） 。 I think that is reasonable for the size of the up front investment we will need to make.我认为这是合理的大小对前方的投资，我们将需要作出。

Will I find such a device and company to meet my A, B, C and D conditions for a tankless water heater?我会找到这样的设备和公司，以满足我的一， B ， C和D的条件，一tankless热水器？

Return tomorrow as we begin the search!返回明天我们开始搜索！

To continue with the next article in the series on tankless / instantaneous water heaters simply select this link to继续与下篇文章在一系列关于tankless /瞬时热水器只需选择此链接 Part 2第2部分 . 。