Trade Out Gas and Fuel Oil
When considering taking steps to become more energy efficient, think in terms of investment. You are spending an amount of money and effort in order to reduce cost and energy consumption in the long run. Trading out your furnace that runs on gas or fuel oil is a great energy efficiency investment that will also increase the value of your building or home.
The most common equipment used for heating homes is a furnace, which heats air and distributes it throughout the home. Furnaces generally heat air by burning a fuel (usually natural gas, propane, or fuel oil). Heating systems that are old, worn out, or inefficient will have a shortened lifespan or higher repair costs. The most cost effective solution may be to replace it with a new high-efficiency model.
ALTERNATIVES TO GAS OR FUEL OIL:
- Electric furnaces are a good option for those who don’t have a natural gas line. They require less installation costs and are highly effective. When all our furnaces are electric, and we are able to source our electricity with 100% renewable energy, they will become carbon free.
- Heat pumps are a two-in-one system as it offers both heating and cooling. Heat pumps are efficient in terms of energy consumption during winter although in extreme cold weather they can sometimes struggle.
- Radiant heaters are any system that heats by raising the temperature of the objects in the rooms rather than generating heated air through vents.
- Geothermal heat pumps are the best option for those who are after energy saving with great comfort all year-round.
Another incentive? Minnesota Power offers several rebates when upgrading to high-efficiency home appliances. Click here to find out more about these rebates.
For more information on home heating systems—including maintenance and repair tips and when to replace units—see the Home Heating section of the Home Energy Guide.
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