Columnist Johanna Neumann: Water heater efficiency poised for giant leap

Rapid access to hot water is a hallmark of modern society and has made our lives a lot easier. With the turn of a faucet handle, we have hot showers as well as water to wash our dishes and clean our clothes.

Now, the Biden administration is positioning America to take a big leap forward when it comes to water heater efficiency. If the U.S. Department of Energy finalizes a proposal to set more stringent efficiency standards for these appliances, they will deliver significant environmental, consumer and public health benefits.

Tucked away in some corner of each of our homes is our humble water heater — a machine whose role is mostly unsung and unseen, but that still plays a big role in our everyday lives. In most households heating water is the second-biggest use of energy, behind only space heating.

Now, thanks to advances in technology, Americans will have the opportunity to save a lot of energy when heating water. This spring, the DOE proposed a new rule to make sure water heaters aren’t consuming more energy than they need to. The DOE estimates that the proposed efficiency standards for water heaters would save 27 quadrillion Btu (“quads”) of energy from water heaters sold over 30 years.

To give you a sense of perspective, the entire U.S. economy consumes about 100 quads of energy per year. Since most of that energy still comes from burning fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas, those energy savings translate to very real environmental benefits.

The proposed efficiency standards for water heaters would save more energy than any federal appliance efficiency standard adopted to date. This rule can have such a large impact because of the ubiquity of water heaters and the leaps involved in electric water heater technology in recent decades.

Today, nearly every household has a water heater, and roughly half of those run on electricity. Most electric water heaters sold in America use electric resistance technology to heat water. Resistance technology relies on electric coils to produce heat, similar to the heating elements you see when you look inside your toaster, and is wildly inefficient compared with heat pumps.

By contrast, heat pump water heaters use an energy-efficient compressor that gathers heat from one space and then concentrates it in a water storage tank. For example, in my house, a heat pump water heater in my basement takes the 50 degree basement air, compresses it, and then transfers some of the heat from the basement air to the water in the tank. As a result, the water that my 13-year-old uses for his morning shower is just as hot as it would be if we had a resistance water heater, but takes less energy because the heat pump does the job more efficiently.

Under the proposed DOE standards, manufacturers would be prompted to transition from electric resistance technology to heat pump technology for most electric water heaters.

The environmental benefits of this transition would be huge. If finalized, the proposed water heater standards would cut climate-changing air pollution equivalent to taking 36 gas-fired power plants offline by mid-century. The standards would also reduce other harmful air pollutants — such as nitrogen oxides — that are linked to respiratory and circulatory problems.

Consumers stand to benefit, too. In particular, those consumers purchasing electric water heaters would see large utility bill savings from the improved efficiency. According to an Appliance Standards Awareness Project fact sheet from July 2023, electric water heaters meeting the proposed standards would save households $238 on utility bills every year. Taking into account additional upfront costs, households would save more than $1,800 over the lifetime of the product.

The Department of Energy is accepting comments on the proposed water heater efficiency rule through Sept. 26. You can add your name to a petition to the DOE in support of the proposed standard at https://tinyurl.com/h2o-heat and I’ll deliver it to the Department of Energy on your behalf at an event in Washington, D.C.

Reducing energy waste is not only the fastest, cheapest and cleanest way to meet our energy needs, but it’s also a critical step to getting to a future powered by 100% clean renewable energy as quickly as possible.

With the adverse impacts of climate change that we see around us every day, we need every solution we can get. Improved appliance efficiency standards are one of those solutions and can help us secure a cleaner, greener future for ourselves and future generations.

Johanna Neumann of Amherst has spent the past two decades working to protect our air, water and open spaces, defend consumers in the marketplace and advance a more sustainable economy and democratic society. She can be reached at columnists@gazettenet.com.

Who’s leaving Days of our Lives in fall 2023?

<img class="attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image" src="data:;base64,” alt=”Martha Madison and Jen Lilley on Days” width=”1200″ height=”675″ data-lazy-srcset=”https://www.monstersandcritics.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Days-leaving.jpg 1200w, https://www.monstersandcritics.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Days-leaving-150×84.jpg 150w, https://www.monstersandcritics.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Days-leaving-768×432.jpg 768w, https://www.monstersandcritics.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Days-leaving-640×360.jpg 640w” data-lazy-sizes=”(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px” data-lazy-src=”https://www.monstersandcritics.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Days-leaving.jpg” />Cast changes are coming to Days this fall. Pic credit: PeacockDays of our Lives spoilers tease more cast changes are coming to the hit Peacock soap opera this fall.

It’s common for Days to go through casting changes multiple times a year.

The daytime drama is like a revolving door with many stars coming and going occasionally.

Hot on the heels of several stars returning to say goodbye to Victor and beloved actor John Aniston, news of a cast shake-up comes.

Several leading ladies are exiting Salem this fall, which will definitely lead to trouble for some fan-favorite couples.

Subscribe to our Soaps newsletter! Get updates on the latest posts and more from Monsters and Critics straight to your inbox.Let’s take a look at who’s saying goodbye to Salem this fall.

Who is leaving Days of our Lives in the fall of 2023?Camila Banus revealed in the spring that she had wrapped her role as Gabi Hernandez. Since the show films so far in advance, Days fans won’t see Gabi’s exit until late October or early November.

As Monsters and Critics previously reported, Martha Madison revealed last month that she’s no longer playing Belle Black. The actress opted to leave after her character wasn’t being utilized. Based on her last day of filming, Belle’s exit should play out in November or December.

Jen Lilley is also exiting the role of Theresa Donovan, although the character isn’t going anywhere. The actress recently shared how her return led to Theresa being recast but did not share when the switcheroo happens.

This week, Chanel (Raven Bowens) chooses Johnny (Carson Boatman) over Talia (Aketra Sevillian), and now it seems that Aketra isn’t filming Days of our Lives anymore.

Taking to Instagram the other day, Aketra showed what she’s been up to lately.

A reply in the comments section shared that Aketra has exited the Peacock soap opera.

“Why you are still not on our show is beyond me!!! You are a beautiful light! To bigger and better! ❤️ @dayspeacock,” wrote Arianne Zucker (Nicole).

<img class="wp-image-1801610" src="data:;base64,” alt=”Aketra comments” width=”680″ height=”250″ data-lazy-srcset=”https://www.monstersandcritics.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Ari.jpg 680w, https://www.monstersandcritics.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Ari-150×55.jpg 150w, https://www.monstersandcritics.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Ari-640×235.jpg 640w” data-lazy-sizes=”(max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px” data-lazy-src=”https://www.monstersandcritics.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Ari.jpg” />Pic credit: @aketra.sevillian/InstagramSpeaking of Arianne, there’s speculation she will be leaving the show as Nicole, but nothing has been confirmed.

The same goes for Nadia Bjorlin (Chloe). The rumor mill has been buzzing she’s out, with no confirmation, though.

More Days of our Lives casting newsAlong with the several exits looming this fall, a couple more special Salem returns are on the horizon. Paul (Christopher Sean) and Andrew (Colton Little) are headed back to town this week.

One reason has to do with Paul meeting his new grandfather Timothy (Dick Van Dyke). The other gives Andrew a chance to reconnect with his trouble-making sister, Theresa.

Plenty of changes are coming to Days this fall, so stay tuned for more details on these comings and goings on the show.

Days of our Lives airs weekdays on Peacock.

Theresa on Days of our Lives: Who’s taking over the role from Jen Lilley?

<img class="attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image" src="data:;base64,” alt=”Jen Lilley as Theresa Donovan on Days.” width=”1200″ height=”675″ data-lazy-srcset=”https://www.monstersandcritics.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Teresa-Days.jpg 1200w, https://www.monstersandcritics.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Teresa-Days-150×84.jpg 150w, https://www.monstersandcritics.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Teresa-Days-768×432.jpg 768w, https://www.monstersandcritics.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Teresa-Days-640×360.jpg 640w” data-lazy-sizes=”(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px” data-lazy-src=”https://www.monstersandcritics.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Teresa-Days.jpg” />Theresa will soon have a new face on Days. Pic credit: PeacockDays of our Lives star Jen Lilley has confirmed she’s wrapped her run as Theresa Donovan on the hit Peacock soap opera.

The news comes just as Theresa returns to Salem for Victor’s (John Aniston) funeral.

Although Jen popped up as Theresa on the Friday cliffhanger last week, she has revealed the show will go on without her soon.

It turns out that Jen wanted to come back to Days as Theresa to honor her friend John Aniston as the show said goodbye to Victor.

In a recent interview, Jen revealed the show initially had a storyline that would keep her there for three months.

Subscribe to our Soaps newsletter! Get updates on the latest posts and more from Monsters and Critics straight to your inbox.At the time, Jen wasn’t sure if her schedule would accommodate that, but she figured it out, only to learn the role had been recast.

Who’s taking over the role of Theresa Donovan on Days of our Lives?Speaking with Soaps.com, Jen confirmed a new actress has taken over the role of Theresa. Jen sought out NuTheresa to alleviate the awkwardness of recasting.

Although Jen didn’t reveal the actress’ name, the rumor mill has been running wild that Emily O’Brien is taking on the role of Theresa.

There’s been buzz that Gwen’s storyline with Dimitri (Peter Porte) is ending with her learning about his affair with Leo (Greg Rikaart). This revelation then has Gwen leaving town as the character has kind of run its course.

Now, one reason the rumors about Gwen and Emily may not be true is that Jen revealed the actress is supposedly only finishing up the initial three-month storyline that Jen was given. Days likely wouldn’t eliminate Gwen to recast Emily as Theresa just for a few weeks.

The good news is that Days of our Lives fans won’t have to wait much longer, as NuTheresa will debut before the end of the month.

Days of our Lives star Jen Lilley recalls learning Theresa has been recastJen also shared what went down behind the scenes during her return as Theresa. She still isn’t quite sure how it all played out all these months later.

The actress began to get fewer and fewer scripts during her time on set until they stopped coming altogether just as her run was getting started. Then, Jen talked to former co-executive producer and director Albert Alarr.

“Listen, you told me Theresa’s going to do X, Y, and Z, and I haven’t gotten the scripts. I only have one more for Monday, and I have two weeks left [on set],” Jen shared with the outlet.

The response was the last thing Jen expected, revealing Albert told her the storyline was going on without her. Theresa had already been recast, and the new actress got the scripts.