When attempting to be environmentally conscious, people usually turn straight to electric cars, preserving wildlife areas, or making an attempt to recycle. While all of these are important and effective routines to get into, there are other measures one can take to reduce their environmental impact from inside of their own home.

During the colder months of the year, the vast majority of homes in the United States begin pumping their home full of heat with their furnace. There is no shame at all in wanting to keep warm in the winter, but you should make a point to determine whether your furnace is running as efficiently as possible.

The lowest efficiency allowed by law for a new gas furnace is 78%. Many homes may even have less-efficient furnaces if they have owned them for long periods of time. Higher quality new models can offer near-perfect efficiency, amounting to about 97%.

For those willing to replace their old HVAC system, dishing out for a new unit could have a substantial impact on reducing harmful emissions. Upgrading a furnace or boiler from 56% up to 90% efficiency in an average cold-climate, could save a home from giving off 1.5 tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year if the house is heated with gas. Homes heated with oil can expect to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 2.5 tons.

Besides just buying new units, homeowners can also reduce emissions by regular conducting furnace repairs and inspections. It can sometimes be difficult to know if you’re furnace is working correctly without closely comparing utility bills. once it is determined that it may not be running properly, the problem still needs to be determined.

One common problem that can effect a heating system’s efficiency is the state of the filters. According to EnergyStar.gov, the filters in a heating and cooling system should be changed either once a month, or up to once every three months depending on the type of filter used. Furnace repair services can ensure that these filters are in good condition or whether they need to be replace.

If you want to take steps to reduce your environmental impact, some furnace repair and maintenance may be able to cut down your emissions while sitting comfortably in your home.