EnerGuide Has Come to Gas Fireplaces

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Canadian homeowners and home builders now have a familiar tool to help them select energy-efficient gas fireplaces. The popular EnerGuide labelling system, which consumers have long used to identify and purchase energy-efficient household appliances, was recently expanded to include vented gas fireplaces.

As of October 2003, manufacturers and distributors who sell gas fireplaces in Canada – whether they be decorative units or models used for space heating – must test the energy consumption of their products using a government-approved testing method and report the results to Natural Resources Canada.

The new rating system will enable consumers to make energy-wise choices that not only save them money but also reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. The EnerGuide Fireplace Efficiency rating, expressed as a percentage, can be found in the manufacturer’s literature – just look for the familiar EnerGuide label. The higher the number, the better. Some units may have ratings as low as 30 percent, while more energy-efficient models have ratings in the 50 percent to 70 percent range.

For more information, including EnerGuide Fireplace Efficiency ratings for gas fireplaces sold in Canada, visit the Web site of Natural Resources Canada’s Office of Energy Efficiency at oee.nrcan.gc.ca. Information is also available by calling toll-free 1 800 387-2000, or writing to Energy Publications, Office of Energy Efficiency, c/o S.J.D.S., Ottawa, Ontario K1G 6S3.