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Honorable Steven Chu
Secretary
U.S. Department of Energy
1000 Independence Ave., SW
Washington, DC 20585

RE: Water Heater Efficiency Standards
Docket # EERE-2006-BT-STD-0129 and RIN 1904-AA90

Dear Secretary Chu,

Thank you for your initial proposal to strengthen the efficiency standards for water heaters.

As you prepare the final standard due out in March, I urge you to take the additional step of strengthening the requirements for the largest water heaters. Stronger standards for the biggest units would boost total national energy savings, increase economic benefits for consumers, and reduce global warming emissions by more than 40% compared to the proposed rule. Just as importantly, DOE would be helping advanced technologies -- heat pump water heaters and condensing gas water heaters -- become mainstream and speeding the transition to these next-generation products. By strengthening the standard for the water heaters with 55 gallons or more of storage capacity, the following additional savings could be achieved over 30 years: • 1.1 quads of energy or enough to power over 5 million typical U.S. homes for a year; • $6.4 billion dollars in net savings to consumers and businesses; and • 63 million metric tons of CO2, an amount equivalent to the annual emissions of 25 coal-fired power plants. With water heating representing the third largest energy use in the home, it is essential that DOE seek substantial changes in water heater efficiency to meet national energy savings goals, provide savings for consumers and businesses, and reduce global warming emissions. I strongly urge you to adopt stronger standards for the larger volume water heaters and capture these significant savings. Sincerely, (replace this line with your name)

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