Media Advisory: Washington State Leads the West Coast in Adopting Energy Efficiency Technologies in Home Water Heating

Available to the Media - CEO of Award Winning Fast Water Heater Company, to Discuss Fuel Efficiency and Trends in Residential Water Heater Systems

WHAT:       Washington State continues to see the highest adoption rates of
            energy saving technology in residential homes on the West Coast.
            Regional service providers comparing Washington, California and
            Oregon, companies characterize Washington as well ahead of other
            Western states in terms of adopting energy efficiency in home
            water heating.

            Mike Kirk, sales manager for Fast Water Heater Company, notes,
            "One out of every 8 water heaters we install in Washington is
            for super efficient tankless or hybrid water heaters. For Los
            Angeles it's one out of every 15, for Portland it's about one
            out of every 20 and for the San Francisco Bay Area it's one out
            of every 30. Washington consumers are extremely focused on
            making investments in their home which improve energy
            efficiency."

WHY:        Rebate structures vary considerably by market. Puget Sound
            Energy offers a $150 rebate for installing a tankless water
            heater with energy efficiency of .82 or higher and a $200 rebate
            for tankless water heaters with energy efficiency of .90 or
            higher. In contrast, Pacific Gas & Electric in the San Francisco
            Bay Area currently offers no rebates for installing super
            efficient tankless water heaters. Adoption rates for tankless
            technology in WA has as a result, outpaced the Bay Area with
            about 14% of replacements upgrading to tankless comparing to 3%
            in the Bay Area. Los Angeles is seeing a big increase in
            adoption rates since Socal Gas offered a rebate similar to PSE's
            in Western Washington; over 8% of replacement water heater
            installations in Los Angeles are converting to the more fuel
            efficient technology.

            To install a tankless water heater, a home must be retrofitted
            which typically means upgrading the gas line and sometimes
            upgrading the duct system as well. As a result, installing a
            tankless water heater can cost between one and two thousand
            dollars more than installing a traditional water heater. As
            newer condensing and now hybrid units have increased energy
            efficiency from the low 80's (% thermal efficiency) to the high
            90's compared to 60% efficiency for a standard tank type gas
            water heater, the total potential energy savings for converting
            to tankless has continued to increase. That combined with the
            federal tax rebate of 30% of the installation cost up to a
            maximum of $1,500 has helped drive significant increases in
            adoption rates in Washington over the last two years.

            While the Washington and California rebates are small compared
            to the federal tax credit, CEO Jason Hanleybrown of Fast Water
            Heater Company says it has an important impact. "We are seeing
            much faster increases in adoption rates for more fuel efficient
            technology when a utility company offers a rebate. It informs
            the public, publicizes the new technology and acts as a signal
            to consumers making them more comfortable in considering and
            adopting more fuel efficient products."

            Puget Sound Energy estimates that adoption of more fuel
            efficient technologies in 2008-2009 saved enough energy to
            supply 23,000 local homes with electricity and 4,000 with
            natural gas for one year.

WHO:        Fast Water Heater Company offers same day installation of
            regular tank type and tankless water heaters throughout the West
            Coast. They have been in business since 1986. The company has
            received numerous awards including most recently the 2009 Energy
            Efficiency Action award from Puget Sound Energy as well as
            Angie's List "Best of" awards in Seattle, San Francisco, Los
            Angeles and San Diego. For more information visit
            www.fastwaterheater.com or contact the company 866-554-1552.

WHERE:      Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego

WHEN:       When mutually convenient

HOW:        To request interviews, contact: Marcee Maylin, (206) 352-1188