The high efficiency market: Richard Trethewey on ENERGY STAR water heaters

By Richard Trethewey
This Old House

As higher-efficiency water heaters have gained traction in the marketplace over the past few years, plumbers, contractors and consumers are seeking information about these models. Richard Trethewey, plumbing and heating expert for This Old House, provides insight on how he’s seen this trend affecting the marketplace.

Coalition for ENERGY STAR Water Heaters: You’ve been in the plumbing industry for a long time. How have you seen changing trends like high efficiency shape the industry?

Richard Trethewey: When I first got into the industry, there was really no definition of efficiency. Plumbers asked, What size do you need? and customers asked, How much is it? Now, because the cost of fuel is so prohibitive, the American consumer has to buy equipment based on efficiency.

Coalition: What effect has the energy efficient trend had on your business?

Trethewey: It is pretty much all we talk about all day, every day. We deal with energy efficient heating, water heating, solar, geothermal and have trained other contractors and engineers about the opportunities in energy. We can do better. Americans use twice as much energy per capita as any of the other industrialized countries.

Coalition: Water heaters gained the ENERGY STAR label in January of 2009. What effect have you seen this have on the industry?

Trethewey: People don’t generally change their water heater for its efficiency: They wait for a catastrophe, such as a flooded basement, when they need to make their decision under duress. You would think they would always go for the most efficient water heater but, as much as we coach them, they don’t always do that. They “get used to” the cost of energy. If they can still afford it and not give anything else up, it might be cheap enough in their minds. But that seems to be changing lately.

Coalition: Why do you think it’s changing?

Trethewey:The national recession is making everyone look at every expense. It has drawn attention to monthly costs in a bigger way.

Coalition: How do This Old House and Ask This Old House encourage their viewers to seek high efficiency water heaters?

Trethewey: For 31 years, I have tried to exhibit on the show the best, the most efficient and the most advanced technology to the American public, always understanding that the market would find cheaper ways to do things. That is all we have ever talked about, how to save energy and have a positive return on investment.

Coalition: What advice would you give to plumbers and contractors when it comes to selling/installing high efficiency water heaters?

Trethewey: This is not your father’s Oldsmobile. You will be a dinosaur if you think that an inefficient tank type water heater, with or without a standing pilot, is the right solution for your customer. Today’s customers will research their choices on the Internet and will find someone who will offer them better or best choices.

Coalition: How would you recommend that plumbers and contractors sell higher efficiency models?

Trethewey: Remind customers that you can’t put money away anywhere and make more than two to three percent, even at the best bank. Explain that more efficient equipment can save 20 to 40 percent. That’s real money saved, real money not spent. You can’t find many better investments these days. ;

Richard Trethewey has been an integral part of the This Old House team since the home improvement show's debut in 1979. He also appears on the Emmy award-winning show’s sister series, Ask This Old House.