The Energy Star program, a popular initiative sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, is designed to help consumers identify products that meet strict energy-efficiency guidelines. A wide range of consumer products, including refrigerators, dishwashers, air conditioners and furnaces, are tested and certified by the Energy Star program.
Given the size of the United States and the different seasonal patterns in the northern and southern parts of the country, the EPA decided to create two categories for Energy Star gas furnaces. Gas furnaces sold in the southern part of the country (wh
ere homes need less heating) are labeled with a “U.S. South” Energy Star logo, and will be up to 12 percent more efficient than standard models of furnaces. Gas furnaces sold in the northern part of the country (where homes need more heating) are labeled with the usual logo, and will be up to 16 percent more efficient than comparable models.
Oil furnaces also qualify for the program, and those with the Energy Star label are up to 4 percent more efficient than the competition.
The EPA also includes a calculation regarding the amount of money an average household would expect to save by using the more efficient models of furnaces on the label, and those savings ranged from $36 to $94 per year.
Marsh Heating & Air Conditioning has been providing top-quality furnace and A/C installation and repair services to the Twin Cities area since 1974. If you are considering replacing your old furnace with a new, more energy-efficient model, you owe it to yourself to talk to the professionals at Marsh first.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about the Energy Star label and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Resource guide.
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