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mm vt c -j- v u economist sunjstoujjville tribune saturday aug 19 2000 c- x wz vr j5vf i wgp hme a heating system is one of the most important purchases a home owner will ever- make in recent years- there have been many improvements in the desighand efficiency of home heating units but large differences still exist v nl the trend these days is toward midefficiency and high efficiency gas furnaces whichhave introduced r a whole newjevel of economical heating to the home v with efficiericiesranging from 80 per cenfto 92 per centafue annual v utilization efficiency gas furnaces can nowireduce energy costs by one third compared to older furnaces older furnaces operate atamuchlower efficiency which resultsin a lofbf wasted heat i newerfurnaces are designed and built using better materials and will produce more heat per fuel dollar uf arhorrie owner doesnt want to replace a mid- efficiency furnace he hasthe optionof installing a special liner made of aluminum flex in thechimney this will create greater efficiency and minimize the cdown draftand is quiteeasy to install v ifyou qpt for a highefficiency gas furnace your initial investment is higher than a midefficiencyf unit but you will realize approximately a15 percent savings in your heatingbbsts per yearv but using a sophisticated heat exchanger heat can be transferred via plastic pipes to heat- walkways basekibhis driveways batnrbbmflobrvand even towel racks 1 v generally todays heat exchangers are guaranteed for life j natural gas arid prbpanej fireplaces are another efficient and popular source of- heat many flexible venting systems are available and certain models- the replace except the front can jb installed almost with these uniteheat radiates dut anywhere-in- the home the frqmthe front area and direct vent modelsjiave a sealed h should be kept backet combustion chamber and vents l tpu feetv s f directly a side wall of the 7 horrie vustas important aschoosing v fthe bright kqrrie cheating unit newer zero clearance units jp b 7youcfioice of are particularly efficient anticari c6ntractormakesure that you beinstalled almost anywhfefin a fe fully tnehomezervdearabcrefers to fireplaces that grmk hohas good references combustible building iriaterials to be positioned on all sides of 2 o for a 2000 squarefootji6me average priceof a replacement gasmitiefficiericy furnace is abouf t l80600x6mpared toabout 27000ofora highr efficiency unit within vyears the acciirnulated savings dnyour heating costs will pay fortke higher priced unit v if you decide to move before you have recouped your initial investrneht you can -factor- any- unrecovered costs- into the selling price- of your home v f wi vr- v 1 many home owners are deciding to intfoducezdhev heating into jheirhomesithere aremanyj3fgasi baseboard heaters wafneaters gasfireplaces 1 another popular heating option is a twbstage gas furnace which is available iri both mid -efficiency- and highefficiency unitsthe gas flame injhese units modulates from- aihigh toa low flame according to vthe temperature registered on the thermostat rather than operating at one maximum level alfthe time r v l t t iin the long riin the twostage gas furnace provides arnqreconstarit indoor temperature andismpre i o efficient iii gas utilizatiorithis type of unit is more l expensive but the longterm payback in home heating costs make ita sound investment 1 t- i v j i 1 sanfaltejnativeheati source many homes are ibeingutfitted withhighfffciericy boilers years akoa boilers veretusedpriniarily as a source for heating radiators andtoday some still provide-heat- v ii v