45% 57% Space heating is the largest The most common home energy expense in your home, heating fuel is natural gas, accounting for about 45 percent of and it’s used in about 57 percent your energy bills. of American homes. Between 2007 and 2012, the average U.S. household spent more than $700 $1,700 on heating using on heating homes natural gas using heating oil. Before upgrading your heating system, improve the efficiency of your house. This will allow you to purchase a smaller unit, saving you money on the upgrade and operating costs. All heating systems have three basic components. If your heating system isn’t working properly, one of these basic components could be the problem. 68 The heat source -- most The heat distribution The control system -- most commonly a furnace or system -- such as forced air or commonly a thermostat -- boiler -- provides warm air radiators -- moves warm air regulates the amount of to heat the house. through the home. warm air that is distributed. Furnaces and boilers are often called CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS because the heat is generated in a central location and then distributed throughout the house. INSTALL A PROGRAMMABLE THERMOSTAT and save big on your energy bills! Save68 an estimated 10 percent a year on heating and cooling costs by using a programmable thermostat. HEAT ACTIVE SOLAR ELECTRIC FURNACES BOILERS PUMPS HEATING HEATING A furnace heats air and uses a A boiler heats water to provide A heat pump pulls heat from the The sun heats a liquid or air in a Sometimes called electric blower motor and air ducts to hot water or steam for heating surrounding air to warm the solar collector to provide resistance heating, electric distribute warm air throughout that is then distributed through house. It can also be used for immediate heat or store it for heating is any process in which the house. a series of pipes. home cooling. future use. electricity is converted into heat. EFFICIENCY EFFICIENCY EFFICIENCY EFFICIENCY EFFICIENCY 59-98.5%, depending 50-90%, depending on 6.8-10 HSPF Not applicable 95-100% on the system’s age the system’s age LIFE EXPECTANCY LIFE EXPECTANCY LIFE EXPECTANCY LIFE EXPECTANCY LIFE EXPECTANCY 15-30 years 15-30 years 15 years 20+ years 20+ years FUEL FUEL FUEL FUEL FUEL Natural gas, propane, Natural gas, propane, Electricity, Solar energy Electricity heating oil, electricity heating oil, biodiesel geothermal energy blends, electricity PRO PRO PRO PRO PRO Inexpensive Easier to practice zone Can provide both your Can reduce your fuel bills. Can be used for a heating (only heating heating and cooling number of distribution the rooms you use in needs if you live in a heating systems. your home). mild climate. CON CON CON CON CON The blower fan Expensive to install and Some types can be Can require a second Can be expensive to can be loud. requires a minimum expensive to install. heating source, which operate compared to temperature to prevent makes the initial purchase combustion appliances. pipes from freezing. more costly. FORCED AIR STEAM RADIANT HOT WATER ELECTRIC SYSTEM RADIANT HEATING BASEBOARDS BASEBOARDS The most common type of home One of the oldest types of Radiant heating -- which can be Similar to radiant heating, hot A type of zone heater, electric heating system, a forced air heating systems, steam radiant installed as floor, ceiling or wall water baseboards (also called baseboards release heated air system distributes heat from a heating uses radiators to panels -- transfers heat directly hydronic heat) use hot water to out of the top while pulling furnace throughout the home distribute heat. from a hot surface to people and heat a space via wall-mounted cooler air to the bottom of using air ducts and vents. objects in the room. baseboard units. the unit. PRO PRO PRO PRO PRO Can be used for cooling. Relatively trouble free. Doesn’t distribute Provide close Quiet operation and allergens. temperature control. low maintenance. CON CON CON CON CON Distributes allergens Requires separate Can be expensive to install Limits furniture Limits furniture placement throughout the house. distribution system for and repair if problems arise. placement and slow to and easily damaged. cooling systems. increase temperature. ENERGY-SAVING TIP ENERGY-SAVING TIP ENERGY-SAVING TIP ENERGY-SAVING TIP ENERGY-SAVING TIP Clean your air filters Put foil behind the radiator When installing in a Install a programmable Clean the heating coils monthly and replace them to reflect the heat into the wood-framed floor, consider thermostat to take regularly to prolong the regularly. room. covering it with ceramic tiles, advantage of zone heater’s life and maintain which add thermal mass. heating. its efficiency. COMPATIBLE HEAT COMPATIBLE HEAT COMPATIBLE HEAT COMPATIBLE HEAT COMPATIBLE HEAT SOURCE SYSTEMS SOURCE SYSTEM SOURCE SYSTEMS SOURCE SYSTEMS SOURCE SYSTEM Furnace, heat pump, Boiler Boiler, heat pump, active Boiler, active solar heating Electric heating active solar heating solar heat, electric heating Measuring a Heating System’s Efficiency The efficiency of COMBUSTION HEATING APPLIANCES (FURNACES AND BOILERS) is measured by ANNUAL FUEL UTILIZATION EFFICIENCY (AFUE). how efficient the appliance the annual fossil fuel is at converting the energy ÷ energy consumed by AFUE = in its fuel to heat the appliance. 56-70% 80-83% 90-98.5% AFUE AFUE AFUE furnace boiler old, low-efficiency mid-efficiency high-efficiency heating systems heating systems heating systems A HEAT PUMP can be used for both heating and cooling. A heat pump’s cooling efficiency is measured using the seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER), while its heating efficiency is measured using heating season performance factor (HSPF) or coefficient of performance (COP), depending on the type of heat pump. WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE? total space heating the total electrical HSPF ranges required during the energy consumed during from 6.8-10. HSPF = heating season ÷ the same season. heat the amount of COP ranges COP = provided ÷ energy input. from 2-4. Types of Space Heaters Sometimes call point-of-use heaters, space heaters provide supplemental heat to a specific room. Since safety is a big concern with space heaters, every home should have a carbon monoxide detector installed. WOOD OR PORTABLE & DIRECT FIREPLACE PELLET STOVES VENT WALL HEATERS Wood-burning stoves are a good heating Portable heaters are used when the main While some fireplaces are only option for those who live in an area where heating system is inadequate or when decorative, others can be used as a wood is readily available. Pellet stoves central heating is too costly to install or heating source. Installing a heat-air typically are more efficient than wood stoves operate. Portable heaters can either be exchange system in the chimney will help but may require servicing. electric or combustion. blow the warm air back into the room. SAFETY SAFETY SAFETY Follow manufacturer instructions for If not used properly, unvented portable Fireplaces should be inspected regularly installation and make sure to have your combustion heaters can be dangerous -- causing to ensure the chimney is clean and that wood and pellet stoves regularly cleaned carbon monoxide poisoning, severe illness and the fireplace drafts properly. to improve efficiency and safety. even death. To ensure safe operation, follow all manufacturer directions. All unvented combustion space heaters should be labeled to verify compliance with ANSI Z21.11.2. Selecting a Heating System Before replacing your heating system, consider the following: FUEL CLIMATE EFFICIENCY SIZE The heating fuels The type of heating system The higher a heating system’s Proper sizing is as important as available depend on you buy will depend on where efficiency is, the higher the efficiency. If your heating where you live in the U.S. you live. In warmer climates, purchase cost but the lower system is too big for your For example, in the you might only need space the operating costs. Look for home, it will cost more to Northeast heating oil is heaters, while in colder ENERGY STAR products, operate. Work with a more popular because climates, you might consider a which exceed the minimum professional contractor to find there is limited access to central heating system. standards for efficiency and install the best heating natural gas. and quality. system for your home. Heating System Maintenance Periodic maintenance can extend the life of your heating system and minimize efficiency loss. CLEAN FILTERS MONTHLY and replace them Check air ducts and regularly. heating pipes to make sure they are PROPERLY SEALED. REMOVE DIRT, SOOT OR Make sure air vents, CORROSION FROM THE SYSTEM, baseboard heaters and clean the heat exchanger to and radiators aren’t maintain heating levels. obstructed. Tips for Cutting Your Heating Bills In winter months, open your curtains during the day to naturally heat your home and close Use a programmable Consider air sealing your home and adding insulation them at night to thermostat to set your to your walls and attic to help retain your home’s heat. keep the heat inside. heater back while you Up to 25 percent of your home’s heat is lost through are away or asleep. small cracks and holes throughout your home. Seal your air ducts, and make sure they are properly insulated when they are installed in an Weatherstrip around unheated area of the Set your ceiling fan to your doors and Make sure your home, such as an spin clockwise to blow windows to keep warm chimney is clean. attic or crawlspace. the rising hot air down. air from escaping. Sources: Energy Saver (www.energy.gov/energysaver), Weatherization Assistance Program Technical Assistance Center (http://waptac.org/) and U.S. Energy Information Administration (www.eia.gov). .