Home : Energy Efficient Products : Heating and Cooling : Furnaces

Furnaces

Natural Gas, Fuel Oil, and Propane Furnaces with Electronically Commutated Motors (ECMs)

Warm air furnaces are the most commonly used residential heating systems in the United States. Typically fueled by natural gas, fuel oil or propane, furnaces that have earned the ENERGY STAR® rating have higher Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) ratings. AFUE is the measure of heating equipment efficiency, represented as a percentage. ENERGY STAR-qualified furnaces use advanced technology and have AFUE ratings of 85% and 90%, or greater, depending on the fuel, making them up to 15% more efficient than standard models. Though these products can be more expensive to purchase up front, the cost difference will be paid back over time through lower energy bills.

Another feature of efficient furnaces is a highly-efficient blower motor known as an Electronically Commutated Motor (ECM). An ECM (or equivalent) is a brushless DC motor with speed and torque controls built in. These advanced features save electric energy. Furnaces with ECMs offer an effective solution to soaring energy costs because ECMs are substantially more efficient than Alternating Current (AC) induction motors and much easier to control. In fact, replacing an older induction motor in your furnace with a new ECM motor will reduce a furnace’s electrical energy usage by approximately 20%.

Buyer’s Guide for Furnaces with ECMs

• Ask for an ENERGY STAR model. When buying a furnace from a retailer or contractor, request an ENERGY STAR qualified model to ensure that you will realize the greatest savings.
• Check the yellow Energy Guide Label. Use the yellow Energy Guide Label to determine the model’s energy use, compare the energy use of similar models, and estimate annual operating costs.
• Sizing and Installation. When buying a new furnace, sizing and installation are as important as product quality. Make sure you find a participating BPI Accredited contractor who will size your furnace based on the conditioned volume and specific characteristics of your house or building including insulation levels, window types, air leakage, etc. Proper equipment sizing is based on your home or building's heat loss during cold weather and heat gains during warm weather. Sizing and other installation practices can dramatically affect how well your new equipment will deliver comfort and savings.

Energy-Saving Tips

• Consider regular maintenance. This will maintain your heating and cooling system performance. Have an oil furnace serviced annually and a gas furnace every two years by a participating BPI Accredited contractor.
• Change the Filter. Changing your furnace filter regularly (at least every three months) is a simple and easy way to maintain optimum savings and performance. Check your filter every month, especially during heavy use months. If the filter appears dirty, it is time for a replacement.
• Sealing Ducts. Ducts that move air to and from a forced air furnace are often big energy wasters. Sealing and insulating ducts can improve the efficiency of your heating and cooling system by as much as 20%. You can get better heating and cooling performance with ENERGY STAR home sealing (insulation and air sealing) and duct sealing, available through the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® Program.
• Test Air Flow. A participating BPI Accredited contractor will test the air flow of your heating and cooling system and make adjustments to make sure it is not too high or low, both of which will affect performance and comfort.