See what I did there? Get more green (a.k.a more cash in your pocket) by purchasing a tankless water heater, and count yourself as a proponent of energy awareness at the same time. Consumer Reports said, “Heating water accounts for up to 30 percent of the average home’s energy budget”. By installing a tankless water heater in your home, your water heating can be 40% more energy efficient and help you save in the long run.

Though there is a steep initial investment (prices range from hundreds to thousands of dollars depending on the size and need), you’ll save a lot in the long run as your house in general becomes more energy efficient. Tankless water heaters, also known as continuous flow, flash, inline, instantaneous, on-demand or instant-on water heaters, provide an instant hot water source whenever and wherever you need it. The water is heated as it flows through the unit by either an electric element or a gas burner. Tankless water heaters don’t retain any water so it avoids the energy cost of keeping a stockpile of water hot for standby use. You can choose to install smaller tankless water heaters at each point of use or a larger tankless water heater that can provide hot water for the whole house.

Research and estimate to see if a tankless water heater is a plausible solution for energy retention your home. Especially in Southern California, where energy use is such an issue, installing a tankless water heater will do wonders in reducing your energy output and help benefit the environment at the same time.