ENERGY STAR^® for heating your home

ENERGY STAR is the international symbol for energy efficiency. It is designed to help consumers quickly identify products that save energy. When properly designed and installed, ENERGY STAR qualified heating equipment can save you 15 percent or more on heating and cooling bills each year, depending on where you live and how much you pay for your energy source.

Currently ENERGY STAR qualified heating equipment include:

• forced air furnaces
• boilers
• water heaters
• air-source heat pumps
• ground-source heat pumps
• programmable thermostats

ENERGY STAR Qualified Forced-air Furnaces

An ENERGY STAR qualified gas- fired, or propane-fired, forced-air furnace has an annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) rating of 90 percent or more. Oil-fired forced air furnaces must have a minimum of 85% AFUE to be ENERGY STAR qualified. Manufacturers apply the ENERGY STAR symbol to models that have been proven to meet or exceed the ENERGY STAR energy-efficiency criteria. Today, most leading manufacturers of home heating \ equipment produce high-efficiency systems that qualify for the ENERGY STAR symbol.

You can usually locate the ENERGY STAR symbol on the back of the manufacturer's brochures, beside the EnerGuide rating or on retail showroom display signs. Use the EnerGuide rating to determine the AFUE rating and the ENERGY STAR symbol to ensure that you have the most efficient product available.

Some high-efficiency furnaces using a variable-speed direct current (DC) motor to run the air circulation fan can significantly reduce electricity consumption while providing better heat distribution.

• More information on forced air furnaces
• List of models: Gas-fired, forced air furnaces
• List of models: Oil-fired, forced air furnaces

Along with a high-efficient furnace, consider an ENERGY STAR qualified programmable thermostat as well. These thermostats have daily and weekend settings and other features. They automatically adjust the temperature to the comfort setting you choose – lower when you are normally away, higher when you are at home.

More information on programmable thermostats.

ENERGY STAR Qualified Residential Boilers

Residential boilers must have an AFUE rating of 85 or higher to qualify for the ENERGY STAR symbol.

• More Information on boilers
• List of models: Gas-fired boilers
• List of models: Oil-fired boilers

Water Heaters

List of models: Gas Water Heaters
List of models: Tankless Water Heaters

ENERGY STAR qualified water heaters use at least 5 percent less energy than conventional models. The energy efficiency performance for water heaters is measured by the Energy Factor (EF). The higher the EF, the more efficient the water heater. There are also requirements for the First-Hour Rating (FHR) of the storage, condensing and heat pump water heaters. The FHR is the amount of hot water in litres a water heater can supply in one hour starting with a full tank. For tankless water heaters, the rating used is Litres per minute (LPM). LPM is the amount of hot water in litres per minute that a tankless water heater can supply over a 42.8 Celcius degree rise. The following types of water heaters must meet or exceed the following EF levels in order to qualify as ENERGY STAR:

January 1, 2009

Product Category	Minimum Efficiency Rating	First – Hour Rating
Gas storage water heater Until August 31, 2010	EF ≥ 0.62	FHR ≥ 254 litres per hour
Gas storage water heater As of September 1, 2010	EF ≥ 0.67	FHR ≥ 254 litres per hour
Gas tankless water heater	EF ≥ 0.82	LPM ≥ 9.5 over 42.8°C rise
Condensing gas storage water heater	EF ≥ 0.80	FHR ≥ 254 litres per hour
Heat pump water heater	EF ≥ 2.0	FHR ≥ 190 litres per hour

More information on water heaters

ENERGY STAR Qualified Heat Pumps

ENERGY STAR qualified air–source heat pumps are about 6% more efficient for heating and about 8% more efficient for cooling than standard models. The energy efficiency of this product is measured by Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) and Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER). Typical residential systems are “split” with a separate indoor evaporator unit in the furnace ducting and an outdoor condenser unit. There are also “single package” systems that have the evaporator and condenser in one unit. The following levels must be met or exceeded to qualify for ENERGY STAR:

In effect: January 1‚ 2009

Type	HSPF Region V   Canada	SEER	EER
Split	≥ 7.1	≥ 14.5	≥ 12.0
Single Package	≥ 7.0	≥ 14.0	≥ 11.0

HSPF for Region IV are 8.2 for Split and 8.0 for single package. Region IV is used in the United States.

More Information on heat pumps

Ground-source heat pumps use the thermal energy of the ground or groundwater to provide a heating or cooling source for a home. There are three basic types:

• closed loop
• open loop
• direct expansion

The cooling function is measured by an energy efficiency ratio (EER), and the heating function is measured by a coefficient of performance (COP). The higher the EER or COP number, the more efficient the heat pump is. ENERGY STAR qualified ground-source heat pumps must meet or exceed the following EER and COP levels:

Product Type	EER	COPV
Closed Loop	14.1	3.3
Open Loop	16.2	3.6
Direct Expansion	15.0	3.5

List of models: ground source heat pumps

More information on ground sourced heat pumps

ENERGY STAR Qualified Programmable Thermostats

Programmable thermostats must have at least two different programming periods (for weekday and weekend programming) and at least four possible temperature settings (such as wake, day, evening and sleep) to qualify for the ENERGY STAR symbol. Thermostat settings are normally programmed at the factory.

Natural Resources Canada shares lists of ENERGY STAR qualified programmable Thermostats with ENERGY STAR in the United States. Many of the products listed are available in Canada. When you click on the link below, you will be taken to a product list on the U.S. ENERGY STAR web site.

List of models: Programmable Thermostats

Manufacturers of ENERGY STAR qualified heating equipment

Frequently Asked Questions on Heating, ENERGY STAR and EnerGuide