14 - Friday, March 31, 1989 - North Shore News IMPROVES EFFICIENCY Natural gas is favored for many GAS is a economica! NATURAL clean-burning, fuel. Where it is available. the eco- nomics favor using natural gas for space heating. water heating, swimming pool and spa heating. It can also be used in the home for cooking and clothes drying. The following information gives average consumption of energy in gigajoules and cost of operation for some of the appliances using natural gas. The costs shown are based on the current rate for natu- ral gas of $4.21 per gigajouie. This does not include the service charge, which is $9.28 per two- month period. Information for ef- ficient management of the equip- ment using natural gas is given Ortions abound for your gas fireplace GAS FIREPLACES are enjoying an increase in popularity as a wider selection of attractive units becomes available. Features can include electronic ignition and thermostatic control, and some models are capable of exceeding the 65 per cent combus- tion efficiency required to qualify them as space heaters. The following information describes the types of fireplace equipment currently available. Gas logs or sandpan gas fireplace burners offer the attrac- tiveness and atmosphere of a wood fire but with added cleanliness, convenience, control and safety. Installed in masonry or metal fireplaces, they provide a warm cosy atmosphere not only in homes, but also in commercial lounges and dining rooms. Similar to wood-burning fireplaces, they are mainly decora- live but a significant amount of radiant heat is generated. Their heating efficiency, however, is low compared with conventional gas heating systems. Packaged gas logs or sandpan units can be installed in self-con- tained metal and zero clearance fireplace models which incorporate the attractive facings used for wood-burning fireplaces. These units are often equipped with blowers and heat exchangers. Gas fireplace/heater units are space heaters capable of more than 65 per cent efficiency constructed in a form resembling a fireplace. Typically, they have adjustable fir- ing rates and can provide enough heat for a large room. They are free-standing and can be vented in- to an existing chirnney (fitted with a metal liner) or a gas B vent. Gas fireplace stoves are similar to wood stoves but utilize gas firelogs rather than wood as the suurce of heat. Units are usually provided with one or more win- dows for viewing the fire and may also have a cooking surface on top. See Instsll Page 15 hoi throughout. Forced warm-air furnaces and hydronic boilers are the most pop- ular methods of space heating in homes using natural gas. Today's equipment gives the consumer choices in type of units with dif- ferent efficiencies to cover dif- ferent heating requirements. Heating costs will vary accord- ing to the amount of insulation, size and type of windows, the con- dition of weatherstripping and caulking and the temperatures maintained, The estimated costs shown in Table 1 are for a typical 110- square metre (1,200-square foot) single-storey Lower Mainland house with a heated basement, in- sulated to three different levels. Under the Energy Efficient catego- ry, the heating unit is an interme- diate efficiency furnace with elec- tronic ignition. The first two categories are with conventional forced warm air fur- naces, with continuous pilot lights. Continuous pilot lights for fur- haces consume between 8 to 9 gigajoules of natural gas a year, which costs approximately $33 to $38 per year. Heating costs will vary from month to month depending on the weather. For a normal heating season, the average monthly con- sumption is shown as a percentage of the annual consumption in Table 2. The choice of chefs. Natural Gas ranges, - cooktops and ovens flick on in wn instant, ready to cook all your meals with remarkable precision. That's why so many pro- fessional chefs prefer this modern fuel. It delivers heat instantly with perfect con- trol. The result? Naturally delicious meals in minutes. your home. WitPy NATURAL GAS 47 The efficiency and ease of Natural Gas can also be used in fireplaces, the laundry room and even on BCGas (4) Naturally. TABLE 1 Typical annual natural gas space heating costs House insulation level Pre-1976, minimal insulation New average, moderate insulation Energy efficient, high level of insulation TABLE 2 Natural gas spece heating con- sumption monthly percentage. January 16% July 1% February 13% August 1% March 12% September 4% April 9% October 8% May 6% November 12% June 3% December 15% Proper maintenance of equipment (oiling bearings, keeping filters Cost $600 $345 $200 e heating needs clean, replacing worn fan belts) and having a= balanced heat distribution system will improve the efficiency. Lowering your thermostat set- ting at night and maintaining a lower temperature during the day when no one is home will save energy and money. Below are recommended settings for comfort and efficiency. #21°C (70°F) when inactive, sitting around reading, watching TV, etc. © 20°C (68°F) when working around the house. © 18°C (50°F) when house is unoccupied, as during winter vaca- tion. This temperature will ensure that nothing freezes. "the patio. And with our new Adapt-2 Gus system, Easy living throughout Natural Gas has never been easier to install. Mealtime or anytime. For more information on easy living with Natural Gas, contact your appliance dealer or gas contractor. Or, call our Gas Heat line at 293-8888.