Rinnai Tankless Water Heaters Awarded Energy Star Designation

Rinnai played a key role in the water heater ENERGY STAR designation process

PEACHTREE CITY, Ga. – January 19, 2009
Rinnai Corporation, the world’s largest gas appliance manufacturer and leading tankless water heater manufacturer, is proud to announce that six models from its line of tankless water heaters have earned the U.S. Department of Energy’s and Environmental Protection Agency's exclusive ENERGY STAR® rating for energy efficiency, including its flagship models, the R94LS and R75LS. Rinnai’s ENERGY STAR qualified products highlight the company’s ongoing commitment to the development and adoption of new energy-efficient technologies, which provide its customers with choices that are both economically and environmentally responsible.

“Water heating presently accounts for 15.5 percent of national residential energy consumption, making it the second-largest energy user in homes,” said Phil Weeks, general manager of Rinnai America Corporation. “With rising energy costs and a continued commitment to environmental stewardship, consumers are focused more than ever before on maximizing their homes’ energy efficiency. By developing ENERGY STAR qualified tankless water heaters, Rinnai is helping consumers save money while simultaneously decreasing their carbon footprint.”

Products seeking ENERGY STAR qualification must meet the program’s strict energy efficacy guidelines. In order to be deemed ENERGY STAR qualified, tankless water heaters must maintain a minimum Energy Factor (EF) of 0.82 and a minimum gallons-per-minute flow of 2.5 at a 77-degree Fahrenheit rise. A whole-home gas tankless water heater that meets these requirements is expected to reduce energy use by 30 percent, which can save a consumer approximately $108 in annual energy costs when compared to a typical gas storage water heater.

Rinnai pioneered the process to get the ENERGY STAR designation for tankless water heaters. “Until now, water heaters were the only major residential energy end use without an ENERGY STAR designation,” said Alliance to Save Energy President Kateri Callahan. “Rinnai recognized the benefits an ENERGY STAR designation would bring to residential water heating and played an integral part in the U.S. Department of Energy’s April 2008 decision to establish an ENERGY STAR program for the category.”

In addition to meeting the ENERGY STAR guidelines, Rinnai’s tankless technology possesses other features that both reinforce and enhance its energy efficacy. Unlike traditional tank-style water heaters, which heat and reheat water around the clock, tankless water heaters only produce hot water when needed, shutting off immediately
afterwards to eliminate wasted energy. Additionally, Rinnai tankless water heaters last more than twice as long as traditional tank-style models and are constructed of 95 percent recyclable materials, drastically cutting the number of water heaters deposited in landfills each year. By investing in a tankless water heater, consumers can reduce their output of greenhouse gases and conserve otherwise wasted energy, thus decreasing their negative impact on the environment.

For more information about Rinnai or the benefits of tankless water heater technology, visit www.rinnai.us.  For more information about ENERGY STAR, visit www.energystar.gov.

About Rinnai

Rinnai America Corporation, a subsidiary of Rinnai Corporation in Nagoya, Japan, was established in 1974 and is headquartered in Peachtree City, Ga. Rinnai Corporation manufactures gas appliances, including tankless water heaters, a wide range of kitchen appliances and heating and air conditioning units. Today, Rinnai is the single largest gas appliance manufacturer in the world and is the technology leader in its industry. Annual corporate revenues, including those of its subsidiaries, are in excess of $2.5 billion. With a global perspective to create 21st century products for the home and office, Rinnai Corporation commits itself to safety and the pursuit of comfortable lifestyles.

About ENERGY STAR®

ENERGY STAR® was introduced by the U.S. EPA in 1992 as a voluntary partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through increased energy efficiency. Today in partnership with the Department of Energy, ENERGY STAR® offers businesses and consumers energy-efficient solutions to save energy and money, while also helping to protect our environment. More than 12,000 organizations have joined ENERGY STAR® as partners committed to improving the energy efficiency of products, homes and businesses. The ENERGY STAR® label appears on more than 50 kinds of consumer products. To learn more about ENERGY STAR®, and to view the revised program requirements, visit EnergyStar.gov or call 1-888-STAR-YES.

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