from Sue in New Berlin , WI :
#654
We need a furnace in our home. Are any financial incentives available, and can you offer advice regarding the make and model?
Yes and yes! Read on for more.
Focus on Energy offers financial incentives and there are Federal Tax Credits available for efficient heating and cooling equipment. A heating and air-conditioning dealer can provide information about equipment that will meet your home's needs and qualify for Focus Cash-Back Rewards and Federal tax credits.
Selecting a good contractor is often more important for the overall performance of a heating and/or cooling system and your overall happiness with the system than the brand and model. Some things to look for in the furnace are:
- An annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) of 90 percent or higher. The higher the AFUE, the more heat you get for your heating dollar.
- Multi-stage firing, which gives you the right size furnace for the majority of the heating season, and a reserve capacity to meet additional heating needs on really cold days or to recover from a temperature setback period.
- An electronically commutated motor (ECM), often called a variable-speed motor. Furnaces equipped with an ECM have lower annual operating costs because they allow the blower to vary its speed based on the home's heating need.
You may also want to consider having an energy evaluation through the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® Program to identify where your home's inefficiencies are. Home Performance consultants can provide you with a better understanding of where your home's big energy losses are and provide you with the potential savings from increasing the efficiency of both your heating system and your home.