Builders of ENERGY STAR qualified homes choose energy-efficient heating systems based on available fuel choices and regional preferences. Common heating systems include boilers, furnaces, and heat pumps. Here’s how they work:
- Boilers heat water that is distributed in pipes throughout the home to radiators, fan coil units, baseboard convection units, or radiant loops. ENERGY STAR qualified boilers use about 10 percent less energy than standard boilers.
- Furnaces heat air and distribute it throughout the home in a duct system. ENERGY STAR qualified furnaces are about 15 percent more efficient than standard furnace models.
- Heat Pumps use a refrigeration cycle to both heat and cool the home. In the summer, a heat pump functions exactly like an air conditioner—heat is extracted from inside the home and transferred to the outside. The resulting cooled and dehumidified air is distributed throughout the home in a duct system. In the winter, heat pumps operate in reverse—by extracting heat from the air, the ground, or a source of water outdoors and transferring it to the indoor air, which is distributed throughout the home in a duct system.
Source: ENERGY STAR
