Skip Navigation to main content U.S. Department of Energy Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Weatherization Assistance Program

Heating

Photo of the front view of a residential furnace for heating.

Heating systems, such as this furnace in a home in Albuquerque, New Mexico, can consume a large percentage of a family's energy budget. The more efficient the heating system, the lower the energy bill.
Credit: Warren Gretz, National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Weatherization crews discovered that they could more effectively provide long-term savings to many homeowners if they could address heating equipment issues. In some homes, heating equipment is so old and inefficient that replacing it with modern, high-efficiency units is cost effective. Modern controls such as setback thermostats also can save lots of energy over their lifetimes.

Addressing the efficiency of the heating equipment is important in every home, and weatherization crews almost always bring analyzers to check efficiency. They will clean and tune up a furnace or boiler that has not been serviced recently and adjust the controls as a routine part of weatherization.

See the following DOE fact sheets written for energy professionals about heating systems:

  • Combustion Equipment Safety: Provide Safe Installation for Combustion Appliances

    (PDF 1.0 MB) Download Adobe Reader.
    DOE's Building Technologies Program publishes this fact sheet as part of its "Building Technology" series; 4 pp.; October 2000.

  • Heating and Cooling Equipment Selection

    (PDF 138 KB) Download Adobe Reader.
    DOE's Building Technologies Program publishes this fact sheet as part of its "Building Technology" series; 4 pp.; January 2002.

  • Right Size Heating and Cooling Equipment

    (PDF 181 KB) Download Adobe Reader.
    DOE's Building Technologies Program publishes this fact sheet as part of its "Building Technology" series; 4 pp.; January 2002.