Life Cycle Cost Estimate for

an ENERGY STAR Qualified Gas Residential Furnace

This energy savings calculator was developed by the U.S. EPA and U.S. DOE and is provided for estimating purposes only. Actual energy savings may vary based on use and
other factors.

Enter your own values in the gray boxes or use our default values.

What fuel do you use to heat your home? Gas

Gas Rate ($/therm) $1.33

What Census region do you live in? WASHINGTON, DC

How large is your home? (in square feet) 2,500 Include only heated space
When was your home built? 2000-Present
When was your existing furnace installed? New Unit Select 'New Unit' to compare new furnace options

New ENERGY STAR

Qualified Unit New Conventional Unit

Uninstalled Cost per Unit (estimated retail price) $1,400 $1,100

Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) 90% 78%
Use with programmable Thermostat (Yes/No) Yes Yes Thermostat Usage Guidelines
You have selected the programmable thermostat option, your savings are calculated
based on ENERGY STAR suggested thermostat usage shown in the link above, your
actual savings may vary.

Annual and Life Cycle Costs and Savings for a Gas Furnace
ENERGY STAR Qualified Savings with ENERGY
Unit Conventional Unit STAR
Annual Operating Costs*
Energy cost $629 $726 $97
Energy Consumption (MMBTU) 47 55 7
Energy Consumption (Therms) 473 546 73
Maintenance cost $0 $0 $0
Total $629 $726 $97

Life Cycle Costs*

Operating costs (energy and maintenance) $7,964 $9,189 $1,225
Energy costs $7,964 $9,189 $1,225
Maintenance costs $0 $0 $0
Purchase price $1,400 $1,100 -$300
Total $9,364 $10,289 $925

Simple payback of initial additional cost (years)† 3.1

* Annual costs exclude the initial purchase price. All costs, except initial cost, are discounted over the products' lifetime using a real discount rate of 4%. See "Assumptions" to change factors
including the discount rate.
†
A simple payback period of zero years means that the payback is immediate.

Summary of Benefits for a Gas Furnace

Initial cost difference $300
Life cycle savings $1,225
Net life cycle savings (life cycle savings - additional cost) $925
Simple payback of additional cost (years) 3.1
Life cycle energy saved (MMBtu) 131
Life cycle air pollution reduction (lbs of CO2) 15,325
Air pollution reduction equivalence (number of cars removed from the road for a year) 1
Air pollution reduction equivalence (acres of forest) 2
Savings as a percent of retail price 66%
 Assumptions for Furnace

Category Value Data Source

Power
ENERGY STAR Qualified Unit
Uninstalled Cost $1,400 See Table7
Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) for Gas 90% ENERGY STAR Specification
Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) for Oil 85% ENERGY STAR Specification
Lifetime (Gas) 18 years LBNL 2008
Lifetime (Oil) 17 years LBNL 2008
Lifetime of Selected Unit 18 years Selection

Conventional Unit
Uninstalled Cost $1,100 See Table 7
Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) 78% See Table 1 (Cell K16)
Lifetime (Gas) 18 years LBNL 2008
Lifetime (Oil) 17 years LBNL 2008
Lifetime of Selected Unit 18 years Selection

Maintenance
Labor cost (per hour) $0 If labor costs associated, please enter values here
Labor time (hours) 0 If labor costs associated, please enter values here

Conditioned Area 2,500 square feet http://www.census.gov/const/C25Ann/sftotalmedavgsqft.pdf

Residential Space Heating Load

Selected City Heat Load by Construction Age (kBTU/SF/YR) 19.80 Calculated
Savings Due to
Ratio of Heating Degree Days to Regional Average Heating % of Regional Programmable
Degree Day Load Thermostat NOAA, 2007**
ANCHORAGE, AK 2.4 Calculated
JUNEAU, AK 2.0 Calculated
BIRMINGHAM, AL 0.8 Calculated
HUNTSVILLE, AL 0.9 Calculated
MOBILE, AL 0.5 Calculated
FORT SMITH, AR 1.5 Calculated

LITTLE ROCK, AR 1.4 Calculated

NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR 1.3 Calculated
FLAGSTAFF, AZ 1.3 Calculated
PHOENIX, AZ 0.2 Calculated
TUCSON, AZ 0.3 Calculated
WINSLOW, AZ 0.8 Calculated
YUMA, AZ 0.1 Calculated
BAKERSFIELD, CA 0.5 Calculated
BISHOP, CA 1.0 Calculated
FRESNO, CA 0.6 Calculated
LONG BEACH, CA 0.3 Calculated
LOS ANGELES C.O., CA 0.2 Calculated
MOUNT SHASTA, CA 1.4 Calculated
SACRAMENTO, CA 0.6 Calculated
SAN DIEGO, CA 0.2 Calculated
SAN FRANCISCO C.O., CA 0.6 Calculated
SANTA BARBARA, CA 0.5 Calculated
SANTA MARIA, CA 0.6 Calculated
STOCKTON, CA 0.6 Calculated
EUREKA, CA. 1.0 Calculated
ALAMOSA, CO 1.6 Calculated
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO 1.1 Calculated
DENVER, CO 1.1 Calculated
GRAND JUNCTION, CO 1.0 Calculated
PUEBLO, CO 1.0 Calculated
BRIDGEPORT, CT 0.8 Calculated
HARTFORD, CT 0.9 Calculated
WASHINGTON, DC 1.1 Calculated
WILMINGTON, DE 1.3 Calculated
MIAMI, FL 0.0 Calculated
ORLANDO, FL 0.2 Calculated
TALLAHASSEE, FL 0.4 Calculated
ATLANTA, GA 0.8 Calculated
AUGUSTA, GA 0.7 Calculated
HONOLULU, HI 0.0 Calculated
DES MOINES, IA 1.0 Calculated
SIOUX CITY, IA 1.0 Calculated
BOISE, ID 1.0 Calculated
LEWISTON, ID 0.9 Calculated
CHICAGO, IL 1.0 Calculated
MOLINE, IL 1.0 Calculated
PEORIA, IL 1.0 Calculated
SPRINGFIELD, IL 0.9 Calculated
EVANSVILLE, IN 0.7 Calculated
FORT WAYNE, IN 1.0 Calculated
INDIANAPOLIS, IN 0.9 Calculated
SOUTH BEND, IN 1.0 Calculated
CONCORDIA, KS 0.8 Calculated
DODGE CITY, KS 0.8 Calculated
GOODLAND, KS 0.9 Calculated
TOPEKA, KS 0.8 Calculated
WICHITA, KS 0.7 Calculated
 Assumptions for Furnace

Category Value Data Source

JACKSON, KY 1.3 Calculated
LEXINGTON, KY 1.4 Calculated
LOUISVILLE, KY 1.3 Calculated
PADUCAH, KY 1.2 Calculated
BATON ROUGE, LA 0.7 Calculated
LAKE CHARLES, LA 0.7 Calculated
NEW ORLEANS, LA 0.6 Calculated
SHREVEPORT, LA 1.0 Calculated
BOSTON, MA 0.9 Calculated
WORCESTER, MA 1.0 Calculated
BALTIMORE, MD 1.3 Calculated
PORTLAND, ME 1.1 Calculated
DETROIT, MI 1.0 Calculated
FLINT, MI 1.1 Calculated
GRAND RAPIDS, MI 1.1 Calculated
LANSING, MI 1.1 Calculated
DULUTH, MN 1.5 Calculated
MINNEAPOLIS-ST.PAUL, MN 1.2 Calculated
SAINT CLOUD, MN 1.3 Calculated
COLUMBIA, MO 0.8 Calculated
KANSAS CITY, MO 0.8 Calculated
SPRINGFIELD, MO 0.7 Calculated
ST. LOUIS, MO 0.7 Calculated
JACKSON, MS 0.7 Calculated
MERIDIAN, MS 0.7 Calculated
BILLINGS, MT 1.3 Calculated
GREAT FALLS, MT 1.4 Calculated
HELENA, MT 1.4 Calculated
MISSOULA, MT 1.4 Calculated
ASHEVILLE, NC 1.1 Calculated
CHARLOTTE, NC 0.9 Calculated
RALEIGH, NC 0.9 Calculated
BISMARCK, ND 1.3 Calculated
FARGO, ND 1.4 Calculated
GRAND ISLAND, NE 1.0 Calculated
LINCOLN, NE 0.9 Calculated
OMAHA (NORTH), NE 0.9 Calculated
SCOTTSBLUFF, NE 1.0 Calculated
CONCORD, NH 1.1 Calculated
ATLANTIC CITY C.O., NJ 1.2 Calculated
NEWARK, NJ 1.3 Calculated
ALBUQUERQUE, NM 0.8 Calculated
CLAYTON, NM 0.9 Calculated
ROSWELL, NM 0.6 Calculated
LAS VEGAS, NV 0.4 Calculated
RENO, NV 1.0 Calculated
WINNEMUCCA, NV 1.1 Calculated
ALBANY, NY 1.1 Calculated
BINGHAMTON, NY 1.2 Calculated
BUFFALO, NY 1.1 Calculated
ISLIP, NY 0.9 Calculated
NEW YORK (JFK AIRPORT), NY 0.8 Calculated
SYRACUSE, NY 1.1 Calculated
AKRON, OH 1.0 Calculated
CINCINNATI, OH 0.8 Calculated
CLEVELAND, OH 1.0 Calculated
COLUMBUS, OH 0.9 Calculated
DAYTON, OH 0.9 Calculated
MANSFIELD, OH 1.0 Calculated
TOLEDO, OH 1.0 Calculated
YOUNGSTOWN, OH 1.0 Calculated
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK 1.6 Calculated
TULSA, OK 1.6 Calculated
ASTORIA, OR 1.2 Calculated
BURNS, OR 1.8 Calculated
EUGENE, OR 1.1 Calculated
MEDFORD, OR 1.0 Calculated
PENDLETON, OR 1.2 Calculated
PORTLAND, OR 1.0 Calculated
SALEM, OR 1.1 Calculated
SEXTON SUMMIT, OR 1.4 Calculated
ALLENTOWN, PA 0.9 Calculated
HARRISBURG, PA 0.9 Calculated
PHILADELPHIA, PA 0.8 Calculated
PITTSBURGH, PA 1.0 Calculated
WILLIAMSPORT, PA 1.0 Calculated
ERIE, PA. 1.1 Calculated
PROVIDENCE, RI 0.9 Calculated
COLUMBIA, SC 0.7 Calculated
HURON, SD 1.2 Calculated
RAPID CITY, SD 1.1 Calculated
SIOUX FALLS, SD 1.2 Calculated
BRISTOL-JHNSN CTY-KNGSPRT, TN 1.3 Calculated
CHATTANOOGA, TN 1.0 Calculated
KNOXVILLE, TN 1.1 Calculated
MEMPHIS, TN 0.9 Calculated
NASHVILLE, TN 1.1 Calculated
 Assumptions for Furnace

Category Value Data Source

ABILENE, TX 1.2 Calculated
AMARILLO, TX 1.9 Calculated
AUSTIN/BERGSTROM, TX 0.8 Calculated
AUSTIN/CITY, TX 0.7 Calculated
BROWNSVILLE, TX 0.3 Calculated
CORPUS CHRISTI, TX 0.4 Calculated
DALLAS-FORT WORTH, TX 1.1 Calculated
DALLAS-LOVE FIELD, TX 1.0 Calculated
DEL RIO, TX 0.6 Calculated
EL PASO, TX 1.2 Calculated
GALVESTON, TX 0.5 Calculated
HOUSTON, TX 0.7 Calculated
LUBBOCK, TX 1.5 Calculated
MIDLAND-ODESSA, TX 1.2 Calculated
PORT ARTHUR, TX 0.6 Calculated
SAN ANGELO, TX 1.1 Calculated
SAN ANTONIO, TX 0.7 Calculated
VICTORIA, TX 0.6 Calculated
WACO, TX 1.0 Calculated
WICHITA FALLS, TX 1.4 Calculated
MILFORD, UT 1.1 Calculated
SALT LAKE CITY, UT 1.0 Calculated
LYNCHBURG, VA 1.2 Calculated
NORFOLK, VA 0.9 Calculated
RICHMOND, VA 1.1 Calculated
ROANOKE, VA 1.2 Calculated
BURLINGTON, VT 1.2 Calculated
OLYMPIA, WA 1.3 Calculated
QUILLAYUTE, WA 1.3 Calculated
SEATTLE, WA 1.1 Calculated
SPOKANE, WA 1.6 Calculated
WALLA WALLA, WA 1.1 Calculated
YAKIMA, WA 1.4 Calculated
GREEN BAY, WI 1.3 Calculated
MADISON, WI 1.2 Calculated
MILWAUKEE, WI 1.1 Calculated
BECKLEY, WV 1.5 Calculated
CHARLESTON, WV 1.3 Calculated
ELKINS, WV 1.7 Calculated
HUNTINGTON, WV 1.3 Calculated
CHEYENNE, WY 1.3 Calculated
LANDER, WY 1.4 Calculated
SHERIDAN, WY 1.4 Calculated

Programmable Thermostat Savings

Average Heating Savings in the Selected City 14.0% RLW Analytics ***

Discount Rate
Commercial and Residential Discount Rate (real) 4% A real discount rate of 4 percent is assumed, which is roughly
equivalent to the nominal discount rate of 7 percent (4 percent real
discount rate + 3 percent inflation rate).

Energy Conversions

Btus per Gallon of #2 oil 138,690 Btu/gal EIA: www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/mer/pdf/pages/sec12_1.pdf : 5.825 million BTUS per barrel
Btu per Therm of Gas 100,000 Btu/Therm

Energy Prices

Residential Distillate Fuel Oil Price 24.3 $/mmBTU EIA: Table 12 of http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/archive/earlyrelease09/aeoref_tab.html

Commericial Distillate Fuel Oil Price 21.28 $/mmBTU EIA: Table 12 of http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/archive/earlyrelease09/aeoref_tab.html
Residential Price of # 2 Oil $3.37 $/gal Calculated
Commercial Price of # 2 Oil $2.95 $/gal Calculated
US gas rate: Energy Information Administration, Annual Energy
Outlook 2009 (Early Release) edition. (converted from 2007 to 2008
Residential Gas Price $1.33 $/therm dollars).
US gas rate: Energy Information Administration, Annual Energy
Outlook 2009 (Early Release) edition. (converted from 2007 to 2008
Commercial Gas Price $1.18 $/therm dollars).

Carbon Dioxide Emissions Factors

Oil CO2 Emission Factor 161.27 lbs CO2/MMBtu EPA ENERGY STAR 2009
Gas CO2 Factor 117 lbs CO2/MMBtu EPA ENERGY STAR 2009

Carbon Dioxide Equivalents

 Assumptions for Furnace

Category Value Data Source

EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator.

Annual CO2 sequestration per forested acre 9,700 lbs CO2/year http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-resources/calculator.html

EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator.

Annual CO2 emissions for "average" passenger car 12,037 lbs CO2/year http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-resources/calculator.html