Biting the ‘green bullet’

Posted on December 4, 2007
Filed Under All, Photos, Green Tech |

The new furnaceHere’s our brand new, energy-efficient furnace: at almost $4,000, it wasn’t particularly cheap. The air conditioning option would have cost an additional $4600 (I declined).

You may recall that last year our 53-year-old furnace failed during a cold snap (temperatures in the 30s). Our good, local plumbing and heating guys wouldn’t repair it, it was just too old. I found a (what turned out to be) fly-by-night outfit to repair it, and we made it through last winter.

When the furnace broke again almost as soon as cool weather started I decided that was it: time for a new furnace, one that would be environmentally a better bet as well.

So here we are, with a brand new Carrier furnace rated 80% AFUE ( Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency - meaning 80% of the gas is converted to heat - considerably better than our old ‘Clipperette’ furnace). $4,000 is a bit of a steep price, but it should last at least 20 years, and we’re reducing our carbon footprint and energy use. It will take a while to get the $4K back in fuel savings…

Comments

2 Responses to “Biting the ‘green bullet’”

  1. Anonymous on December 4th, 2007 2:04 pm

    If only landlords would do the same for renters.

  2. Nils Grevillius on December 7th, 2007 5:28 am

    If I am traveling for work, that our furnace will break down is guaranteed. This last week, Iowa suffered an Ice Storm while I was chasing Gypsies in California and, sure enough, I had to lay out another $200 to Capitol City Heating & AC.

    Whatever happened to a log fire at the cave entrance?

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