Home design and renovation

Home heating accounts for up to 50 percent of your wintertime energy usage. By choosing efficient equipment and maintaining your heating system, you can lower those costs and put money back into your pockets. Choosing an efficient heating system for your home requires a little research but the time invested is well worthwhile. Energy Star The U.S. Department of Energy offers an Energy Star rating program. This program rates heating systems and other appliances based on their efficiency. If you choose a furnace or heat pump with the Energy Star rating, it will be up to 50 percent more efficient than a product without the Energy Star seal. Heating System Maintenance Even if you choose the most efficient heating equipment on the market, failure to maintain it will yield a much lower system efficiency. Heating system maintenance is essential to performance as well as your health and safety. Once each year, the heating equipment should be serviced by a licensed and insured technician, like ...