One
of the most effective ways to save money in the home is to look into
purchasing energy efficient home appliances. One of the appliances that
tends to use the most energy in the home is the furnace. Beginning your
home energy revolution with the furnace may not be a bad idea.
Before any energy efficient home appliances, like furnaces, are purchased,
it is important to understand what it is about these specific appliances
that make them work better than traditional appliances.
The efficiency of furnaces is measured by the Annual Fuel Utilization
Efficiency (AFUE). This measure is able to gauge the seasonal performance
of the furnace. Most of the new furnaces that are currently being manufactured
fall between 78 percent and 96 percent AFUE.
Those furnaces that have an AFUE measurement above 90 percent are considered
to be "condensing." This means that it is able to recapture
some of the heat that other furnaces waste. It does this by condensing
and reusing the escaping water vapor. Those furnaces that have at least
a 90 percent AFUE should definitely be considered energy efficient home
appliances.
These furnaces are especially effective in colder climates. Those who
live in warmer climates may save more money by retrofitting their systems
with a heat pump instead.
A new furnace is one of those energy efficient home appliances that
should be able to cut down on the amount of electricity used. Most of
the electricity used by a furnace is used to power the fan motor. If
efficiency is important to you, perhaps it would be best to look into
buying a furnace with a variable speed fan motor. By doing something
as simple as choosing a variable speed fan instead of a standard fan
motor, you may be able to save yourself hundreds of dollars each year.
The sizing of energy efficient home appliances is also very important
to those who are trying to maximize efficiency. There are many furnaces
that simply have a heating capacity that is too high for a particular
home. By working closely with the contractor installing the furnace,
you can make sure the equipment being installed in your home is the
right size and can be considered one of the best energy efficient home
appliances for you.
Of course, a lot can be said for the simple maintenance of furnaces
in making them energy efficient home appliances. Doing something as
simple as checking the cleanliness (or lack thereof) of your filter
can help it run more efficiently and save you more money. If there is
just a little debris, cleaning the unit may not be a bad idea. If there
is a lot of debris or if it has been a few months since you last changed
the filter, changing it may be more efficient.
It also is wise to reset the temperature while you are away. If your
home is empty for several hours a day during the daylight hours, you
may be able to set the temperature for a lower setting than you now
have it at. Doing this will save you money on your utility bill. For
maximum efficiency in the winter it is recommended to set the heater
to around 60 degrees.
A furnace is one of the energy efficient home appliances that makes
the most sense to invest in and can save you the most money if correctly
utilized.