Energy Saving Tips for Furnaces

Households typically spend around 56 percent of their energy bill on heating and cooling, according to the United States Department of Energy. However, homeowners can significantly reduce that amount by applying a few energy-saving techniques to their furnaces.

Regulate the Thermostat

• According to Oregon's Public Utility Commission, homeowners and renters can reduce their heating bills by up to 3 percent for every degree they turn down thermostats on gas furnaces. Programming the thermostat to turn the temperature down overnight or when no one is home can also save an average of 5 to 10 percent.

Maintain Ducting

• Fixing small holes, gaps and leaks in ducting can prevent up to 25 percent of heat loss, according to Oregon's Public Utility Commission. Cleaning or changing filters once a month, or as the appliance manual recommends, also increases a furnace's efficiency.

Consider an Energy Star Furnace

• While purchasing a new furnace can cost a substantial sum in the short term, it may pay for itself in the long term. According to the Daily Green, old furnaces can have an Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) rating as low as 50 percent, which means half of what a person spends to use that appliance is wasted. Energy Star-rated furnaces have an AFUE of up to 90 percent and are up to 20 percent cheaper than comparable new, less efficient models.