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Energy Star Gas Furnaces | We get this question from time to time about Energy Star gas furnaces and how it can benefit you as a consumer. Therefore we are going to fill you in on the specifics of Energy Star and include information about gas furnaces with the Energy Star logo. So the posed question is, “What is an Energy Star rated gas furnace”? And, “How can it benefit me”?
First, let’s look into Energy Star and what it is. Two specific government agencies manage Energy Star. The Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency. A manufacturer producing products that use energy to work must pass certain guidelines approved by these agencies to use the Energy Star logo. That includes signing an agreement and using third-party testing to test the efficiency of the product. If it passes certain efficiency tests, then the manufacturer may use the Energy Star label on their product. This includes gas furnaces.
Energy Star Gas Furnaces
Energy Star gas furnaces must meet specific testing requirements before the manufacturer can use the Energy Star label. Third-party testing is usually done by AHRI (Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute) in their testing laboratory. AHRI is the designated third party testing lab used by HVAC manufacturers for gaining credibility and for using the Energy Star label on their products. Testing standards and specifications for gas furnaces and other HVAC equipment are derived from professional and governmental organizations such as ASHRAE and ANSI. Other organizations have input into testing specifications and standards.
- ASHRAE - American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers
- ANSI - The American National Standards Institute
These organizations make standardized tests for HVAC products using engineering principles and guidelines so that the test is fair for everyone. AHRI uses the tests to test various gas furnaces (and other HVAC equipment) to come up with a baseline efficiency level for that product. That information is then used by the manufacturer of marketing tools to sell their products. In this way, no manufacturer can claim without it first being tested by a specific standard. The same standardized test required for all other manufacturers.
Labels | Energy Star Gas Furnaces
Energy Star has certain criteria based on the testing of the gas furnaces that each manufacturer must before they can use the Energy Star label. Here is the basic criteria for gas furnaces:
| Equipment | Specification |
|---|---|
| Gas Furnaces Key Product Criteria | Rating of 90% AFUE or greater for U.S. South gas furnaces |
| Rating of 95% AFUE or greater for U.S. North gas furnaces | |
| Oil Furnaces Key Product Criteria | Rating of 85% AFUE or greater |
| Gas and Oil Furnaces Key Product Criteria | Furnaces must be equipped with a high efficiency, electronically commutated fan motor. |
| Less than or equal to 2.0% air leakage |
And now the definitions for the North/South regions:
Energy Star Gas Furnace Criteria North/South Regions
| US Regions | US States per Region |
|---|---|
| U.S. North | Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming. |
| U.S. South | Alabama, American Samoa, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. |
Conclusion | Energy Star Gas Furnaces
Buying a product with an Energy Star rating does not mean you are getting the most efficient product available. It simply means you are getting a product that has a higher efficiency rating that meets specific criteria as defined by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency. Either way, buying products with the energy star rating, including Energy Star rated gas furnaces will save you in the long term with lower utility bills. Consequently, the cost of initial purchase and installation may be higher but in the long term it is an investment that will pay for itself through savings on your utility bills.
Saving energy these days is necessary to reduce the energy bills. Buying more efficienct products helps in the regard. Return on investment for buying energy efficient appliances is smart. Check out our listings for Energy Star rated gas furnaces in our Gas Furnace Reviews category.
Energy Star Gas Furnaces
Energy Star Gas Furnaces
Resources: Wikipedia
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