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