Adulting is hard. Cooking healthy meals, paying your utility bills, building good credit … all while wearing (mostly) wrinkle-free clothing. For extra credit, how about lowering your monthly bills? Now that’s #AdultingDoneRight.
One of the best ways to save money is to cut back on your heating costs. (Not the extra-hot lattes you’ve been treating yourself to — although those do add up.) Did you know heating your home accounts for about half of total energy costs?
You can try to reduce home heating costs by getting eight or nine cats to cuddle with, to keep you warm. You can also consider using natural gas.
Save money with natural gas
Natural gas is about a third of the cost of electricity, depending on which heating system you use and how cold it is where you live. Check out the cost difference between natural gas, electricity and other options with this fuel cost comparison information for different areas of B.C.
You can also check out FortisBC’s home energy calculator. It also helps you estimate the operating costs for kitchen gadgets like your coffee maker — once you’re ready to start saving on those grande lattes — and other fancy, grown-up appliances.
Which natural gas heating system is right for you?
There are a variety of options to fit your budget:
Natural gas furnaces
Natural gas furnaces are widely popular and provide evenly balanced warmth throughout your home. Plus, forced-air heating usually brings in fresh air from outside for ventilation. Along with the furnace’s air filter, this improves the air quality in your home.
Hydronic heating systems
Natural gas hydronic systems heat water and distribute it throughout your home through pipes hidden in the floor. Save even more money using this system of radiant, luxurious heated flooring — as well as natural gas furnaces — by installing thermostats with energy-efficiency features, such as scheduling and remote access from your smartphone.
Room heaters and wall furnaces
Looking to take a more minimal approach to your home heating? Natural gas room heaters and wall furnaces can be used as a scaled-down system. They’re compact and sealed, circulate heated air by gravity or with a circulating fan, and can be installed on any exterior wall — no chimney needed. Freestanding models are also available in a range of styles and colours, including furniture-style cabinets that blend with your décor. That’s #AdultingDoneRight.
Sometimes, being an adult means knowing when to ask for help. And when it comes to heating systems, you’ll definitely want to call in an expert before you make any purchasing decisions. Ask a licensed gas contractor to assess your home’s energy needs and give you a recommendation.