A recent building competition hosted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Energy Star revealed that senior living communities are quite sustainable, reported ALFA. In fact, senior communities outpaced the rest of the country in terms of energy and water efficiency. Much of these savings were driven by seniors being more aware and active when it comes to avoiding wasteful behaviors than younger generations. Senior living communities can maximize this efficiency even further by investing in a high-end tankless water heater.

Maintain energy efficiency
High-end tankless water heaters can improve the efficiency of a senior living community in multiple ways. First, tankless water heaters are built to heat water on demand. This design accounts for the "tankless" aspect of high-end electric water heaters. Removing the reservoir eliminates energy wasted by constantly keeping water at the right temperature. Even the most insulated reservoir tanks are susceptible to heat loss, so senior living communities serious about reducing energy waste as much as possible should consider ditching the tank. Tankless water heaters are 99 percent energy efficient, ensuring that nearly every dollar spent on water heating by a retirement community's budget translates to hotter water.

Reservoir tank water heaters are also susceptible to mineral buildup, which tampers with the appliance's heating element and compromises efficient water heating. These water heaters depend on routine flushing by a professional to maximize performance. Tankless water heaters are built to prevent build-up before it happens, ensuring the heater maintains efficient performance throughout its life cycle.

Reduce water waste
The inherent design of a reservoir water heaters makes the appliance highly susceptible to water waste as well. One of the major sources of this water waste occur when the the water heating reservoir is empty, a common occurrence in facilities with a large volume of tenants. People waiting for additional hot water will often let the sink run in an effort to summon the hot water more quickly. Unfortunately, this common habit simply wastes additional water. Tankless models are also much less susceptible to leaks when compared to traditional models. Water does not collect in a tankless water heaters, mitigating water waste risks if the heater somehow becomes damaged.

Improve senior safely
The elderly are a higher risk for scalds and burns from overheated water, according to NPR. Aging skin is typically less sensitive than that of a younger adult, so a retiree could potentially spend ample time beneath a scalding stream before pain begins to register. This potential for injury reinforces the need for water heaters with precise temperature control. Top of the line tankless water heaters are often marketed as compliance solutions for contractors, and as such are equipped with a heat control valve that is accurate to a single degree. This technology can be used to ensure that every bath, sink and shower in the facility is safe for seniors.