A new Department of Energy proposal would raise efficiency standards for natural gas furnaces in the United States, and if approved, it would be the first update to furnace standards since the 1990s.
The new standard would raise the those rates up to 95% for new furnaces manufactured and imported beginning in 2029. The new rule would be phased-in and wouldn't penalize homeowners who have an older model furnace in their home or force them to change-out a working furnace for a new model. Currently 40% of furnaces shipped today are at or above that 95% goal already.
In a release, the Department explained:
"Achieving an annual fuel utilization efficiency of 95% (producing 95 British thermal units (BTUs) of heating for every 100 BTUs of natural gas consumed) would mean taking almost all of the gas used by the furnaces and turning it into heat provided to the living space. Modern condensing furnaces, which use a secondary heat exchangers to capture excess heat from the furnace’s exhaust gases, make this standard achievable for every American home. Canada has already made the use of condensing furnaces mandatory for residential heating for over a decade."
The DOE says if the rule takes effect, it would reduce carbon emissions by 373 million metric tons and methane emissions by 5.1 metric tones over 30 years. Consumers who use natural gas furnaces would save $60 per year on their bills.
Read more from the Department of Energy.
Local HVAC installer Brian Agers raised some red flag is concerned about the new proposal as a guest on the Marc Cox Morning Show. He says upgrading the furnace may require an extra cost in addition to the furnace.
"We're not talking about just the cost of the equipment, we're talking about the impact this is gonna have on a lot of folks, who really can't afford it," says Agers.
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