Is it time to replace your furnace or air conditioner? A variety of new equipment options can offer you increased comfort and cut your heating bill.

Energy-saving potential

• Older furnaces are frequently around 60% Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE).
• Older furnaces waste 40 cents of every heating dollar.
• A 90% AFUE furnace saves about one-third of your heating costs.
• An 80% AFUE furnace saves about one-fourth of your heating costs.

Note: If you have natural gas appliances such as a water heater, dryer or stove, be sure to subtract that use when calculating your home heating costs. Your summer gas use is a fair approximation of your nonhome heating gas use.

For example, if your average summer gas use costs $14 per month, multiply this by 12 to find your nonheating gas use for the year.

Subtract this amount from your total 12-month gas bill to find your annual heating cost.

Example:
$14/month x 12 months = $168 non-home heating gas use
Total gas use for the year = $750
$750 - $168 = $582 annual heating cost

My Energy Use - Look up and compare your past energy use.

MGE brochures
Furnaces [PDF - 809 KB]
Air Conditioners [PDF - 633 KB]
Energy-Saving Checklist - A Guide for Homeowners [PDF - 578 KB]

Efficiency incentives
Focus on Energy offers Cash-Back Rewards for:

• Furnaces with 90% minimum AFUE and efficient fan motors.
• Boilers with 90% minimum AFUE.
• Central air conditioners with minimum 14 SEER efficiency.

For details, call 1-800-762-7077 or visit Focus on Energy.

New 2009 and 2010 federal tax credits are available for high-efficiency furnaces and air-conditioners. These credits can cover up to 30% of the cost for qualifying equipment. For details, visit ENERGY STAR®.

Government and consumer sites
EPA ENERGY STAR Heating and Cooling Equipment
Consumer Reports online
How Air Conditioners Work
Thermostats and Control Systems - U.S. Department of Energy Consumer Guide

Heating and cooling equipment manufacturers
Use dealer locators on manufacturers' Web sites to find local heating and cooling contractors.