by Tammie Painter, Demand Media - Aritcle from the National Geographic
One of the steps recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency to help reduce climate change is to lower your energy consumption. Within your home, you can do this by replacing an older furnace with a high-efficiency model. Newer, high-efficiency furnaces can produce heat using 90 percent of the incoming energy, while older model furnaces may waste up to 50 percent. The downside of installing a new furnace is the expense, but over time, you'll save enough money on your heating bill to pay off the cost. You can calculate the length of the payoff period by referring to your old heating bills.