Event Description

In this class, Dan Perunko of Balance Point Home Performance looks at changing the way hot water is stored and delivered to the tap in residential buildings. The theory behind our approach is called “Structured Plumbing”. This will be a practical class focusing on how to install or modify hot water plumbing following the principles of “Structured Plumbing”. The presentation is based on completed projects including retrofits and new construction.

On the average Californians consume less water than the residents of other states. Even so there is a need for us to conserve even more water. The construction community has an opportunity to further reduce residential water use in ways that do not feel like conservation to our customers. Structured plumbing is an example of this type of win-win for customers and the surrounding environment. 
 

At the conclusion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Convey the importance of water conservation measures that do not negatively impact the homeowner's comfort
• Cite the annual volume of water a typical household can save by adopting structured plumbing
• Discuss how reducing pipe diameter decreases the wait time for hot water at a fixture
• Present strategies for installing a structured plumbing system in an existing home
• Practice evaluating existing plumbing layouts to decide if existing pipe should be reused or rerouted
• Summarize the best options for locating hot water tanks and recirculation pumps with different floor plans
• List the material choices available for replumbing hot water systems (each material will be evaluated for its impact on water flow and velocity)

Image: Energy.gov, office of Energy fficiency and Reneable Energy (EERE)