Irresponsible energy saving tips

I was just doing alittle research about energy savings tips for the house, and came across a horrible tip that should seriously be disregarded. The souce is from the us department of energy. Here is the link http://www1.eere.energy.gov/consumer/tips/water_heating.html

In this article they suggest that you turn down your hot water tank to 120 degrees.

DO NOT DO THIS. You run the risk of allowing the bacteria called legionnaires disease to grow in your hot water tank. Legionnaires disease Dies at basically anything above 122 degrees. See the diagram.

122 degress is the slow death range of the bacteria. In Ontario, I am not sure about the rest of Canada. The Building code by law states that any hot water tank installed must be set 140 Degrees. This high temperature Kills the Bacteria in the tank.

Please disregard any advice you read or are told about lowering the temperature of your hot water tank to anything below 140 degrees F, to save energy.

You will be placing your family at potential risk in lowering the temperature. You may have had a new hot water tank installed in the past year and were told to have a tempering valve on the tank to cool the water to 120 at delivery from your fixtures. NOT to worry. If your hot water tank is set at high 140Degrees f then you are safe and the bacteria has been killed at the tank.