Usage-centered, efficient, and sustainable: an IoT-driven transformation of water heaters

In developing countries, a significant amount of natural gas is used for household water heating, accounting for roughly 50% of total usage. Legacy systems, typified by large water heaters, operate inefficiently by continuously maintaining a large volume of water at a constant temperature, irrespective of demand. With dwindling domestic gas reserves and rising demand, this increases dependence on expensive energy imports. We introduce a novel Internet of Things (IoT)-inspired solution to understand and predict water usage patterns and only activate the water heater when there's a predicted demand. This retrofit system is maintenance-free and uses a rechargeable battery powered by a thermoelectric generator (TEG), which capitalizes on the temperature difference between the heater and its environment for electricity. Our study shows a notable 70% reduction in natural gas consumption compared to traditional systems. Our solution offers a sustainable and efficient method for water heating, addressing the challenges of depleting gas reserves and rising energy costs.