COMMON SYSTEMS
room temperature control. Does not provide airflow. Needs ducted heat-recovery ventilation system to get air flow. Lack of ventilation associated with excess humidity and mould build-up.
? Forced-air electric furnace: A retrofit to
forced-air furnaces that formerly burned natural gas or oil.
? Hydronic (water): Water is heated by a
gas or electric boiler and pumped through a system of pipes. The water can run through baseboard convectors or through pipes imbedded in the floor.
? Ground-source heat pump: Often
referred to as geothermal, the system uses a series of pipes buried in the ground.
? Air-source heat pump: Heat is extracted
from the exterior air.
? Wood-burning stove: A primary or
emergency source of heat. More common in rural areas, especially where wood is plentiful and inexpensive.
ENERGY SOURCES
? Natural gas is the most widely used
heating fuel in Canada. But natural gas lines are not found in many rural areas.
? Heating oil is widely available.
? Electricity is chosen because it is relatively inexpensive and widely available.
? Propane is sometimes used as an alternative to oil in areas not served by natural gas. Cleaner emissions than oil and wood.
ENERGY-EFFICIENCY RATINGS
All heating appliances sold have a AFUE (annual fuel utilization efficiency) rating. It's a measure of how efficient the particular appliance is in using a fuel. If a furnace has an AFUE of 80 per cent, 80 per cent of the fuel is converted into heat energy and the balance is lost. The best natural-gas heating equipment can achieve efficiencies in the 95 to 98 per cent range. Electricity is 100 per cent.
The EnerGuide rating system helps consumers identify the efficiency of different models and manufacturers. For more information, go to hrai.ca/energuide.
Heating source calculator lets you compare the costs of your home heating system with savings offered by newer equipment and other sources of energy. oee.nrcan.gc.ca/homeheatingcalculator
