All Things Efficient

Have Questions about your Energy Audit? EnerAide can help!

Types
Select a type:
• Natural Gas/Propane
• Oil
• Wood
• Heat Pumps
• Solar

Heating Systems

Choose from a variety of heating systems including Natural Gas/Propane furnaces and boilers, Oil furnaces and boilers, different methods of wood heating, heat pumps and solar.

Wondering how your home's heating system stacks up in terms of cost?

Break out your calculator and find out which of the options is the most cost effective!

Electric

$ ____ /kWh
÷ 0.0036 (GJ energy per kWh)
= $ ____ /GJ

Click here to find current electricity rates.

Oil

$ ____ /litre
÷ 0.038 (GJ of energy per litre)
= $ ____ /GJ
÷ ____ % (furnace efficiency rating)
= $ ____ /GJ

Click here to find current oil prices.

Natural Gas

$ ____ /GJ
+ $ ____ (distribution charge)
÷ ____ % (furnace efficiency rating)
= $ ____ /GJ

Click here to find the current price of natural gas if you’ve switched from electric heat.

Click here to find the current price of natural gas if you’ve switched from oil heat or installed natural gas heating in a new home.

Hardwood

$ ____ /cord (average $225/cord, 2008)
÷ 30.6 (GJ of energy per cord)
÷ ____ % (furnace/stove efficiency rating)
= $ ____ /GJ

Wood pellet

55 (number of bags in 1 metric tonne)
x $ ____ /40 lb. bag (average $5.29/bag, 2008)
÷ 19.8 (GJ of energy per tonne)
÷ ____ % (furnace/stove efficiency rating)
= $ ____ /GJ

*It typically takes 110 GJ to heat an old home through the winter and 80 GJ to heat a new home.

ENERGY STAR gas and propane furnaces and boilers have an Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) of 90% or higher. AFUE is the measurement of furnace energy efficiency, measured in percentage; the higher the percentage, the more efficient the furnace.
An oil fired furnace energy efficiency performance over a heating season is called the Seasonal Energy Utilization Efficiency (SEUE). This SEUE is expressed as a percentage. The higher the percentage, the more efficient the furnace.
Choose high efficient EPA certified wood stoves.
The heating function of a heat pump is measured by a Coefficient of Performance (COP). The higher the COP number, the more efficient the heat pump is. The Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) is a measure of efficiency that is the ratio of cooling in Btu/h divided by the electricity use in watts at specified temperatures. The higher EER indicates a higher efficiency.

Condensing gas furnaces and boilers are the most energy efficient models on the market today.

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If your furnace is working inefficiently, you could see if replacing the burner would work better before replacing the entire furnace.