| A new furnace is a major investment, but various | | | | Consult the NRCan Website for a list of licensed |
| federal and provincial government incentives are | | | | companies. |
| helping homeowners offset a good portion of the | | | | Installing Your New Furnace |
| costs. Before installing your new furnace, be sure | | | | Once your energy audit is complete, you can |
| to have a home energy audit done by a qualified | | | | speak to your local HVAC company to select a |
| firm. Without it, you can't claim your refund. | | | | new high-efficiency furnace. |
| Assessing Your Current Home Heating System | | | | To qualify for a grant, you need to complete the |
| According to Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), | | | | work within 18 months of your first energy audit. |
| 17% of the energy used in Canada today is used | | | | HVAC companies can get busy at certain times |
| to run our homes. Within the home, nearly 50% | | | | of the year, so don't wait until the last minute. |
| of that energy goes towards heating and cooling. | | | | Your HVAC dealer will help you decide on a new |
| Clearly, greater efficiency in our home heating and | | | | furnace. There are many makes and models to |
| cooling systems can save us money and help | | | | choose from, so a professional can help you |
| reduce our energy consumption. | | | | make the right choice. Here are few factors to |
| NRCan recommends the use of Energy Star | | | | consider: |
| (high-efficiency) furnaces to help control heating | | | | Size - You need a furnace that suits the size |
| costs and reduce harmful carbon dioxide | | | | of your home. Too much furnace will be a waste |
| emissions. An Energy Star furnace has an annual | | | | of money, and too little will leave you cold. |
| fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) rating of 90% or | | | | Two-stage heating - Two-stage furnaces |
| more, compared to 60% in older furnace models. | | | | work at a lower level until the temperature drops |
| According to Alberta's Climate Change Central | | | | by a significant amount. These furnaces are |
| website, a new Energy Star furnace can also | | | | usually quieter too. |
| reduce annual fuel costs by up to 30%. | | | | Variable speed DC motor - Running on a |
| Before you contact your local HVAC specialist to | | | | lower fan speed most of the time, furnaces with |
| inquire about a new furnace, make sure you | | | | a DC motor save energy and run more quietly. |
| follow the procedures required to qualify you for | | | | If you install a new furnace with an AFUE rating |
| government rebates. The first step is to get an | | | | of 92% or higher and a variable DC motor, you |
| energy audit done by a licensed, independent | | | | can get a $500 rebate from the federal |
| energy advisor. | | | | government, and may be eligible for additional |
| The simple assessment outlines the steps that | | | | rebates from your province. With new incentives |
| you can take to improve the energy efficiency in | | | | promised in the most recent federal budget, you |
| your home. It also provides a benchmark | | | | may be eligible for even more savings. |
| efficiency level for you to use when seeking | | | | New Furnace, More Cash on Hand |
| grants, many of which are based on the amount | | | | We're all looking for ways to save money, but it's |
| of improvement in your home's energy efficiency. | | | | even better if we can save money and help the |
| After you've done your retrofits, a second | | | | environment at the same time. With governments |
| assessment will be done to prove that the | | | | prepared to help with the costs, now is the time |
| changes were made and to gauge your new | | | | to consider a new furnace. Contact your local |
| efficiency level. | | | | HVAC company to learn more. |