About Home Heating
Definitions
AFUE: Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency – This represents the average annual seasonal efficiency of a furnace or boiler. It shows how effective a furnace is at converting gas into heat. For example, a 95.5% efficiency 100,000 BTU furnace provides roughly 95,000 BTU to your home.
BTU: British thermal unit – A unit of measurement for heat. It is the amount of energy required to raise the temperatures of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. A furnace rated at 100,000 BTU consumes 100,000 BTU per hour.
Energy Efficiency: A goal to attain reduced energy use of products without sacrificing usability.
ENERGY STAR: An international standard for energy-efficient consumer products that originated in the United States. Energy-efficient choices can save families about a third on their energy bill with similar savings of greenhouse gas emissions, without sacrificing features, style or comfort. ENERGY STAR helps you make the energy-efficient choice.