Fresh 2024 data from AHRI shows that gas storage water heater sales declined again in 2024 to their second lowest level since 2012. Sales of tanked water heaters that burn gas were down by 115,000 units, or 3%, in 2024. Meanwhile, sales of electric water heaters increased by 3% or ... [continued]
This really isn’t a sign of progress. Resistive electric water heaters have long been preferred by cheap, shitty apartment managers because they are cheaper to install/maintain. The expense of operating these (significantly higher than their natural gas alternatives) is handled by the tenant, so that’s someone else’s problem. An increase in low-quality housing, which almost always has terrible insulation, is not a good thing for the world on any level.
If these were heat pump water heaters I would have a different opinion, but the article clearly states the data does not distinguish.
This really isn’t a sign of progress. Resistive electric water heaters have long been preferred by cheap, shitty apartment managers because they are cheaper to install/maintain. The expense of operating these (significantly higher than their natural gas alternatives) is handled by the tenant, so that’s someone else’s problem. An increase in low-quality housing, which almost always has terrible insulation, is not a good thing for the world on any level.
If these were heat pump water heaters I would have a different opinion, but the article clearly states the data does not distinguish.