Four leading water heater manufacturers (Bradford White Water Heaters, Rheem Water Heating, Rinnai America Corp. and A.O. Smith Water Heaters) have joined with the Consortium for Energy Efficiency to become part of the Coalition for EnergyStar® Water Heaters.

To increase program awareness and demand in the market, CEE formed the Coalition for EnergyStar Water Heaters, comprised of industry associations, efficiency program administrators and water heater manufacturers offering a variety of EnergyStar models.

Beginning Jan. 1, 2009, manufacturers were allowed to apply the EnergyStar mark for the first time to their qualifying models. For a gas-fired water heater to be eligible for EnergyStar, it must have a minimum energy factor of 0.62 for storage water heaters, a minimum EF of 0.80 for condensing storage water heaters, or a minimum EF of 0.82 for tankless water heaters.

EnergyStar criteria for gas-fired storage water heaters will increase to 0.67 on Sept. 1, 2010.  Criteria have also been established for heat pump water heaters and solar water heating systems.

For more information on the Coalition for EnergyStar Water Heaters, visit www.eswaterheaters.com.