Heating and Cooling
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.
Current Annual Heating Cost |
80% AFUE New Furnance Savings |
90% AFUE New Furnace Savings |
$350 |
$88 |
$124 |
$500 |
$125 |
$177 |
$650 |
$163 |
$231 |
$800 |
$200 |
$284 |
$950 |
$238 |
$337 |
$1,110 |
$275 |
$390 |
Estimated annual savings from improved furnace efficiency assumes existing furnace efficiency of 60%.
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
Efficiency incentives
Focus on Energy offers Cash-Back Rewards for:
- Furnaces with a 95% AFUE or greater and an efficient fan motor.
- Boilers with 95% AFUE.
For details, call 1-800-762-7077 or visit Focus on Energy.
Government and consumer sites
EPA ENERGY STAR® Heating and Cooling Equipment
Consumer Reports online
How Air Conditioners Work