Home Ownership Based on CAC's home heating research here are the key options you should consider:

• If you own a well-maintained oil furnace, consider adaptions to increase its efficiency. Consider the oil furnace as a back-up to heat pumps, wood heat or solar systems.

• As far as cost is concerned, natural gas (if available to you) appears to be the least expensive home-heating fuel.

• If you're already in the market for an air conditioner and you're prepared to back it up below -10°C, the versatile heat pump will dramatically reduce heating costs.

A study of home-heating alternatives recently completed by Energy, Mines and Resources Canada, indicates that, in March 1983, the best home-heating investment for an average-sized new home in Ontario was an intermediate-efficiency gas furnace (with an electrical ignition and draft fan replacing the less efficient continuous pilot light).
Home > Home Ownership > Energy Economics > The Final Word?

December 4, 2008