City Government

Home Heating

Your Home’s Biggest Energy User

On average, home heating accounts for about 2/3 of your home’s energy use, so making the right choice in a heating system is important. Most homes in Edmonton are heated using a forced-air furnace in which natural gas combustion heats the air, which is then blown throughout the home via a network of ducts and vents.

EnerGuide and ENERGY STAR

For all gas-heating appliances, look for the EnerGuide or ENERGY STAR label (or both) to determine the energy efficiency of the appliance. Efficiency is measured by Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE). All new furnaces have an AFUE of 90%, but a lot of old ones are still in operation.

Condensing Furnaces and Boilers

Condensing furnaces or Boilers condense the water vapour produced in the combustion process and use the heat from this condensation. The AFUE can be 10% higher than that of a non-condensing furnace. Though a condensing furnace costs about $4000, the average home can full recoup this cost in energy savings in less than 10 years.

Did You Know?
Combining a high-efficiency furnace with a programmable thermostat that sets the temperature each night to decrease from 21 to 17ºC can reduce yearly natural gas costs by 4 to 6%.