Save Money With Energy-Efficient Heating in New Jersey
Heating a home in New Jersey can be costly. Based on Department of Energy (DOE) figures, heating a home can account for up to 30% of your utility bill. This is more than you pay for plumbing or any other system in your home.
You can use tools to cut costs such as a smart thermostat that keeps the temperature lower during the winter and lets things get a little warmer during the summer. While a smart thermostat can be an important tool in cutting energy costs, the most practical step that you can take to save money on your bills is to install an efficient heating system in your home.
Energy-efficient heating systems will cost more than systems that are not as efficient because of the higher quality parts and modern technology used. For most homeowners, despite the original cost, an efficient heating system saves money in the long run because it uses less energy and lowers heating bills.
What Is an Energy-Efficient Heating System?
When you’re looking for an energy-efficient heating system, you’re looking for a heating system that will generate sufficient heat to keep your home’s occupants comfortable while not costing an excessive amount to operate.
What is energy-efficient in one environment may not be so in another. For example, a heat pump can be more efficient than a furnace if it’s used in a moderate climate because it does not have to generate heat but instead works on principles of transferring heat from outside into the home. However, a furnace will be much more efficient than a heat pump if you live somewhere with extremely cold winters, such as New Jersey.
The general guideline for determining a heating system’s efficiency is the AFUE (annual fuel utilization efficiency) system. This rating lets you know what percentage of the energy used by your furnace or your heat pump is turned into heating for your home versus how much of it goes to waste.
For example, if you have a furnace with an AFUE rating of 90%, then 90% of the energy used by your system is heating your home. In other words, if you have a furnace that burns natural gas, 90% of the unit’s gas is used to keep you warm while 10% is lost.
Currently, DOE minimum regulations require that heating systems have an AFUE of 80%. However, energy-efficient units will have a rating of 98% or higher. The more efficiently your furnace burns fuel, the less fuel it’s going to need to keep your home at the desired comfort level.
If you have a system built before 1992, before the DOE standards were enforced, you’re probably wasting 30% or more energy and money. Consider upgrading a boiler with a 56% efficiency rating to one with a 90% efficiency rating, and your house will produce 1.5 fewer tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year. You will likely see a 50% reduction on your bill as well.
Options for Installing Energy-Efficient Heating Systems in New Jersey
The most common heating system that we install is a natural gas furnace. It uses a heat exchanger to heat the air and a blower to push the warm air through the home with a duct system.
A heat pump is also a popular option installed in many homes in our area. The beautiful thing about a heat pump is that its design allows it to have a dual purpose. During the summer, it can cool your home, and the system can be reversed to heat your home during the winter. The dual nature of the unit makes it energy efficient, and you are not installing a whole furnace and AC unit that comes with ductwork and thermostat in addition to the unit.
Installing an energy-efficient boiler offers more benefits than most think. A natural gas boiler that heats the water in the tank and then uses it to warm the home can have an AFUE rating of up to 100. The downside is that boilers can be expensive to purchase, repair, and replace.
With so many energy-efficient heating options, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. At Price’s Plumbing, we want to help make the process easier by providing high-quality products and expert technicians backed by our service guarantee. You can reach our Mount Laurel Township office at 856-325-9719, or contact us online and see for yourself why we are New Jersey’s premier HVAC specialist.