The consumption of electricity and water by the country's commercial buildings is quite high. In fact, the United States Environmental Protection Agency reported that private-sector facilities are responsible for using 17 percent of the nation's public water. Businesses consume 18 percent of the nation's electricity as well, so there's plenty of room for building managers working in commercial facilities to encourage more sustainable policies. One way that commercial buildings can improve energy efficiency and reduce water usage is by upgrading aging storage tank water heaters. These outdated appliances act as a drag on a building's sustainable operations, contributing to wasted fuel and water. Going tankless offers companies a smart solution for getting to the root of both problems.

Simplified compliance eliminates labor costs
Some companies keep up to date with compliance standards like UPC 413.1 by equipping their plumbing system with additional temperature controls – adding extra mixing valves to pipes can help to regulate temperatures safely, but come at the cost of added maintenance worries. Each time new equipment is added to the building's plumbing system, pipes experience additional wear and inch toward the ends of their service life. Thankfully, building managers can avoid this scenario by going tankless. High-end models have compliant water control devices built-in, and relying on one company to handle hot water delivery and compliance as one installation helps reduce the total number of labor hours a company has to pay for.

Point-of-use installation tailors to building needs
No two businesses are alike, and no two company offices are arranged in the same way. As a result, not all commercial facilities are ideal for centralized water heating strategy. This water heating method causes extra waste when points-of-use are spread out across the building – hot water loses heat while traveling through the building, and this heat loss forces heating elements to work overtime. Similarly, underheated water is turned into waste as users run the faucet until the stream grows more comfortable. Both problems can be solved by putting water heaters closer to locations where workers use hot water, and tankless water heaters are perfect for this project. Tankless models are just a tenth of the size of storage tank heaters, and this versatility allows these state of the art appliances to be installed almost anywhere with ease, according to the Digital Journal. 

Going tankless resolves maintenance concerns
Installation and maintenance errors are often a big factor when determining the culprit responsible for a commercial building's water efficiency problems. A leak caused by poorly secured plumbing, for instance, can contribute to heat and water lost in the form of a leak. In worst case scenarios, improper installation of a reservoir storage tank can put a building at risk for explosive collateral damage. Companies can circumvent many of these anxieties by simply purchasing a tankless model. A lack of storage tank, electric on-demand heating, and build in compliance technology ensure that tankless models are less vulnerable to maintenance woes than their predecessors.

Efficient performance pays dividends
The Alliance for Water Energy pointed out that even small upgrades to water efficiency have a big impact on a commercial building. In fact, impacts made by sustainable upgrades are more visible in larger buildings – a heavy rate of consumption creates more opportunities for savings. Tankless water heaters offer efficiency savings beyond reducing waste water and fuel use. Smaller, cleaner tankless water heaters also boast superior thermal efficiency compared to standard water heaters. While the best storage tank heaters are capable of converting 65 percent of utility costs into hot water, tankless models are designed to perform at 99 percent thermal efficiency.