Tip 9: Replace Shower Heads with Low-Flow Models

The average family of four uses an astounding 700 gallons of hot water each week! You can reduce this cost - regardless of how your hot water is heated - by installing low-flow shower heads. Low-flow showerheads typically save more than 12 gallons per shower - a savings of some 44%.

An even better solution, one that is admittedly more expensive and therefore has a longer return on investment, is to replace you water heater completely with one of the new "tankless" models. These devices provide hot water on demand, doing away with the storage of hot water entirely. An important consideration in purchasing a tankless system is its longer lifespan, typically lasting 2-3 times longer than conventional heaters.