Furnace upgrade not mandatory, but will save you money

Home Efficiency Q&A:

(NC)-Here's the answer to a frequently asked question, courtesy of Dave Walton, director of home ideas at Direct Energy:

A: The new standard, which applies to new purchases only and goes into effect December 31, 2009, will require all new gas furnaces meet a minimum efficiency of 90%.  It does not require that existing furnaces be upgraded until homeowners make the decision to do so. But there's more:

• Upgrade benefits - Upgrading from a 17-year-old furnace, to a new high-efficiency furnace is going to save money on gas bills and also help the environment. This new standard is part of a federal initiative to reduce greenhouse gases and raise energy efficiency standards for Canadian homes, old and new.

• Savings - An older "conventional" furnace operating at 60% or less efficiency can waste 40 cents of every dollar. Upgrading to a high efficiency gas furnace, for a home spending $1,000 per year on heating, could result in savings as high as $300. Many high-efficiency furnaces are eligible for government rebates. The savings on the initial furnace purchase means payback becomes even quicker.

A high-efficiency furnace provides the homeowner with years of increased energy efficiency, quieter operation, better air circulation, and save a few cents every time the thermostat is turned up. More information is available online at www.directenergy.com or toll-free at 1-888-334-8221.

courtesy of: newscanada

Visit www.LisaTollis.ca for more information about Real Estate & Listings in the Ancaster-Hamilton-Burlington Ontario and All of the Surrounding Areas.

Lisa Tollis SRES.
Sales Representative
Seniors Real Estate Specialist
Royal LePage State Realty, Brokerage.
Hamilton Ontario
Office: 905 574 4600
Toll Free: 1 877 574 4601
www.LisaTollis.ca