Members of the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) voted to change the Uniform Plumbing Code to require insulation of hot water pipes in new homes and commercial buildings. The change should cut hot water waste by 15-30 percent and save energy in the process.
The change stipulates that hot water pipes be insulated for all homes and commercial buildings built after 2015. By incorporating this proposal into the next edition of the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials’ model plumbing code, officials bring this change to communities in Nevada, California, Idaho, New Mexico, North Dakota and jurisdictions around the country that use IAPMO’s Uniform Plumbing Code as the model for their own local codes.
Energy and water are inextricably linked, particularly when it comes to the energy needed to heat water. The World Bank recently unveild its Thirsty Energy initiative, to address the interconnection.