Stiebel Eltron Accelera 300 E vs Vaughn Thermal ME65HPT: which uses less energy?
At the medium draw pattern the Vaughn Thermal ME65HPT uses 973 kWh a year and the Stiebel Eltron Accelera 300 E 1,025 — 52 kWh (5%) less, about 522 kWh over ten years. Both are filed as an electric tank, so the comparison holds. Enter your ZIP below to price the difference.
Side by side
Compared within one class only: models filed as an electric tank at the medium draw pattern.
| Figure | Stiebel Eltron Accelera 300 E | Vaughn Thermal ME65HPT |
|---|---|---|
| UEF (Uniform Energy Factor) | 3.17 | 3.34 (better) |
| Energy use per year (kWh) | 1,025 | 973 (better) |
| First hour rating (gal) | 66 | 70 |
| Rated storage volume (gal) | 58 | 57 |
| Installed cost range NLR REMDB | $3,379–$3,943 | $3,366–$4,103 |
| ENERGY STAR certified ENERGY STAR | not matched | yes |
| Sound level (dB) ENERGY STAR | not filed | 54 |
| Refrigerant ENERGY STAR | not filed | R-134a, GWP 1430 |
| On the market since ENERGY STAR | not filed | 2023-09-01 |
| CPSC recall naming it CPSC | none on file | none on file |
DOE CCD · 2026-09-19 NLR REMDB · 2026-04-01 ENERGY STAR · 2026-09-19 CPSC · 2026-09-24
What it costs to run
Reliability
Not published: Reliability, failure rates and each model’s actual warranty term.
The registries these figures come from certify energy performance under a federal test; none of them records how long a unit lasts or how often it fails, so this page does not rank the two on reliability.
What is here instead:
- The filed efficiency, capacity and tank size of both models, side by side above.
- No CPSC recall on file names either model (list checked 2026-09-24).
- The actual warranty term is printed in each model’s documentation, not in any registry.
Which should you pick?
- Pick the Vaughn Thermal ME65HPT if running cost matters most: it uses 52 kWh less a year on the same test.
- Pick the Stiebel Eltron Accelera 300 E if it is the one you can get installed sooner or for less — on the filed figures it has no advantage over the Vaughn Thermal ME65HPT.
- Neither if your household's busiest hour needs more than 70 gallons of hot water — neither lists more.
Each model on its own
- Stiebel Eltron Accelera 300 E 1,025 kWh a year
- Vaughn Thermal ME65HPT 973 kWh a year