Furnace Energy Efficiency
Energy Efficiency Rating
All new furnaces available today are high-efficiency, with an Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating of 90% to 98%.
- AFUE measures the amount of fuel entering a furnace that is converted to heat vs. the amount of fuel lost. An AFUE of 90% means 90% of the fuel converts to heat, while the other 10% of the fuel is lost out of the chimney.
- Select a high-efficiency furnace with and AFUE of 90 to 94% or an ENERGY STAR® furnace that meets or exceeds premium levels of energy efficiency.
- Add a programmable thermostat for even greater energy savings.
Furnace labels
ENERGY STAR®
The most energy-efficient furnaces have an ENERGY STAR label and an AFUE rating of 95% or higher. Only furnaces with exceptional energy efficiency earn the ENERGY STAR label. See more information on the ENERGY STAR program.
EnerGuide
The EnerGuide label compares the energy efficiency of a single furnace to similar furnaces sold in Canada. EnerGuide is regulated by Natural Resources Canada. Learn more about EnerGuide.
AFUE comparison chart
The higher the AFUE number, the more energy-efficient the furnace.
AFUE Comparison Chart
Efficiency
|
AFUE rating
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Heating value
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High-efficiency
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90 to 98%
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90 to 98¢ of every heating dollar you spend translates directly into heat in your home.
|
Mid-efficiency*
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78 to 82%
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Loses 18 to 22¢ of every heating dollar.
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*Mid-efficiency furnace sales were discontinued in Canada as of December 31, 2009.