What is the Most Energy-Efficient Way to Heat a Home?
When temperatures plummet during the winter months, you want a heating system that will adequately heat your home. However, if you’re ready to replace your heating system, you now have the luxury of finding a unit that completely meets your needs. Some factors you may want to consider are fuel type, overall costs, and energy efficiency.
The higher the energy efficiency of a heating system, the less energy you’ll waste. Since heating and cooling expenses can account for half of your yearly energy bills, having a high-efficiency heating system can help you save money.
But, what is the most energy-efficient way to heat a home? Fortunately, there are many high-efficiency heating systems to choose from, each with benefits.
What is High Energy Efficiency?
In the simplest sense, the higher the energy efficiency of a heating system, the less energy it has to use to heat your home. Heating systems with poor energy efficiency often have to work twice as hard to do their jobs, leading to high utility bills and an early system replacement.
Installing a high-efficiency heating system is also one way to be more eco-friendly. With all of the benefits of high-efficiency systems, there’s no wondering why companies and homeowners alike are investing in them.
Although all high-efficiency furnaces can help you save money on your heating bill, you might be asking, “What is the most cost-efficient way to heat a home?” To answer this question, let’s discuss the various types of heating systems and their overall costs.
Heat Pumps
If you’re looking for the most efficient heating system, look no further than the heat pump. Heat pumps can work as both a heating and air conditioning system. During the summer, a heat pump removes heat from your home, whereas in the winter, it brings in heat from outdoors.
Air-Source Heat Pumps
Although there are various types of heat pumps to choose from, air-source heat pumps are the most common. They work by capturing heat energy in the air and moving it either inside or outside of your home, depending on whether the unit is acting as a heater or air conditioner.
These heat pumps are ideal for moderate climates, like what we have in Irving, TX! This is because the overall energy efficiency of air-source systems drops considerably when outdoor temperatures fall below freezing.
Additional Benefits of Heat Pumps
- Lack of Noise: These systems are specifically designed to produce little to no noise.
- More Consistent Heating: Ductless heat pumps can be installed in individual rooms of your home, so you can avoid uncomfortable cold spots.
- Safe Operation: These systems run on electricity instead of gas, so they don’t produce carbon monoxide like gas furnaces. Plus, they don’t pose a fire risk like some heating systems.
Furnaces
Besides a heat pump, what is the most energy-efficient way to heat a home? The answer, undoubtedly, is a furnace. Furnaces are the most popular heating system among homeowners. Here are the most common types of furnaces:
- Electric: Electric furnaces run on electricity and are the most energy-efficient among the three. However, these systems can be the most expensive to operate.
- Gas: These furnaces use gas to produce heat. These are the second most efficient furnaces—but the most popular among homeowners. Gas furnaces are affordable to install and operate.
- Oil: Oil furnaces run on oil to heat a home. These systems are the least energy-efficient, and oil delivery bills can run high during cold winter months.
Overall, furnaces are a high-efficiency way to heat a home. Most high-efficiency furnaces have two heat exchangers for enhanced efficiency.
What is the most cost-efficient way to heat a home between the three furnaces? Electric furnaces have the highest AFUE rating, but gas systems often cost less to operate. For the highest energy-efficiency ratings, consider an ENERGY STAR® certified furnace.
Contact the Heating Experts
What is the most cost-efficient way to heat a home? As you can see, there are several factors to consider when answering this question. Plus, there are ways to increase energy efficiency, from investing in a programmable thermostat to insulating your home.
However, if you’re ready to upgrade to an energy-efficient heating system, turn to the experts at Tempo Air.
Our team of HVAC professionals has years of experience performing furnace and heat pump services in Irving, TX. We’re dedicated to going the extra mile for our customers. We know the most energy-efficient way to heat a home while meeting your specific needs.
Contact us for a heat pump or furnace replacement in Irving today!
Not that we need to remind you, but heating a home is expensive. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heating costs are responsible for around 30% of the typical home utility bill—more than any other “system” in the home.
While there are many ways to cut these costs (like using a programmable thermostat or simply wearing a sweater in lieu of cranking up the heat), one very practical step you can take is to outfit your home with an efficient heating system. Even if it requires an upfront investment, you’ll save money over time because the more efficient a heating system is, the less energy it needs to operate, and this can translate into lower heating bills.
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What Makes a Heating System Efficient?
It helps, of course, to know what defines “efficient” so that when you go in search of one—or when you are trying to determine whether your existing system is efficient—you’ll know what to look for.
A heat pump’s effectiveness is directly affected by weather conditions. In moderate climates, heat pumps are far more efficient than a furnace. In very cold climates the furnace is more efficient (although heat pumps are becoming contenders quickly).
In general, the most important piece of information is the system’s annual fuel utilization efficiency rating, or AFUE for short. This measurement, which is a percentage rate, tells you how much of the energy (usually, in the form of electricity or natural gas) that the system consumes is going directly toward heating your home versus how much is going to waste. In other words, it lets you know how much energy the system is converting into usable heat.
An AFUE of 90%, for example, indicates a high rate of efficiency—a system with this rating is putting all but 10% of its energy to good use. Currently, the DOE requires a minimum AFUE of 80%, but a lot of modern heating systems exceed the minimum (some rate as high as 98.5%).
The least efficient system? Basically, anything manufactured before 1992, before there were any AFUE standards. This means that if you live in a 30-plus year-old home and haven’t upgraded the heating system since then (or ever), you are probably wasting a lot of energy and money.
How much energy? That depends on so many individual factors, but to give you an idea of the difference between old furnaces and newer ones, the DOE reports that “upgrading your furnace or boiler from 56% to 90% efficiency in an average cold-climate house will save 1.5 tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year if you heat with natural gas.”
That’s a lot of CO2.
It can also reduce your heating bill by as much as 50%, says the DOE.
How to Choose an Efficient Heating System
Practically speaking, though, finding a heating system with a high AFUE rating is only one part of finding the most efficient heating system for your home. You also have to find one that is compatible with your home’s energy source. Some homes are outfitted for electric heating systems only; others are set up for natural gas.
Natural gas, by definition, is more efficient overall than electricity, so if that is what you are going for—and your home isn’t already natural-gas compatible—check with your local gas company to find out whether conversion to natural gas is possible. If it is, or if you are already set up with your energy source of choice, the next step is to decide which of the three main types of heating systems is best for your home.
Types of Heating Systems
Furnace
In general, furnaces are the most efficient of the heating systems, especially if you have natural gas. They work by heating air with a component called a heat exchanger and pushing it into the home through a duct system, using a fan (often referred to as a blower). Along with the fact that they have high-efficiency ratings, one of the biggest advantages of furnaces is the relative affordability.
In terms of furnace cost, most folks can expect to pay between $2,000 and $7,000 for a new furnace (natural gas furnaces, as opposed to ones that run on electricity, are on the higher side). The downside of this choice? Thanks to the fan, furnaces are often loud.
Heat Pump
A heat pump is an air conditioning and heating unit all in one (the fact that it is dual purpose makes it efficient in its own way). When it is hot outside, the unit grabs air from inside your home, removes the heat from it with a refrigerant and pumps it back into the home as cool air. During winter, it takes air from inside and adds heat to it before sending it back indoors to warm up your space. Outdoor air is never brought in through the heat pump.
Benefits include excellent air filtration and lack of noise (unlike furnaces, they are quiet). On average, heat pumps cost around $5,600, with some costing as much as $20,000 depending on the type you get (heat pumps come in three varieties—air-source, split-duct and geothermal). Will a heat pump reduce your energy expenses? Maybe, or maybe not. They may actually raise your electric bill just as much as they lower your gas bill, so it could be a toss-up.
In terms of measuring efficiency, heat pumps don’t go by the AFUE. Instead, their efficiency is based on the Heating Seasonal Performance Factor (for heating mode) and the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (for cooling mode). To avoid confusion, your best bet is to just look for a heat pump that is Energy Star certified (this will help make sure you are getting one that checks off all the right boxes).
Boiler
Believe it or not, boilers are still a thing. As the name suggests, a boiler is a system that heats up water in a tank and uses that water to warm your home, pumping water from the boiler’s tank through a series of pipes to individual radiators. The radiators then distribute heat around various rooms and spaces.
Natural gas boilers are as efficient, if not more so, than furnaces (some have AFUE ratings of up to 100). Electric boilers are uncommon in homes (at least in the U.S), and so are boilers that run on oil, even though you can still get them. In terms of cons, because of their shape (tall and cylindrical) boilers take up more space than the average furnace. Boilers are also quite expensive (up to $10,000), and if anything goes wrong, the repairs can get pretty pricey, too.
What to Consider When Choosing a Home Heating System
Selecting the right home heating system is crucial for enhancing the comfort of your living space. From the size of your home to the climate in your area, these factors can help you choose a heating system designed specifically to meet your needs and adapt to local conditions.
Size of the House
When choosing a home heating system, factors such as total square footage, number of rooms, insulation levels and even ceiling height all impact the effectiveness and efficiency of your chosen heating solution.
- Square footage: Your home’s size directly impacts the heating system’s capacity needed. Larger houses require more robust systems to ensure sufficient warmth throughout the space.
- Number of rooms: When choosing a home heating system, the size of your house matters. Consider the layout and number of rooms. Some systems, like zoned heating, maintain consistent temperatures across different areas, offering personalized control for energy efficiency and comfort.
- Insulation: Homes with good insulation require less energy for heating. Evaluate the insulation levels in your walls, ceilings and floors to ensure they are aligned with the appropriate system that complements your home’s insulation quality.
- Ceiling height: If your home has high ceilings, it may require specialized heating systems to accommodate the larger air volume. Ensuring adequate air circulation in such spaces is crucial to maintaining consistent and uniform heating.
Local Climate
The local climate significantly influences the choice of a heating system. It is important to evaluate factors such as temperature extremes, humidity levels, energy efficiency and the environmental impact.
- Temperature extremes: Consider the usual range of low and high temperatures in your vicinity. If you frequently encounter extremely cold or hot conditions, you might require a more robust heating or cooling system.
- Humidity levels: Opting for a heating system like radiant heating systems, among others, contributes to maintaining optimal humidity levels in your home, which is particularly crucial in regions that experience dry or humid climates.
- Energy efficiency: Optimize energy efficiency by selecting a heating system that is appropriate for your climate. Heat pumps offer higher efficiency in regions with moderate climates, while furnaces are typically preferred for colder areas.
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