Your LPG heater’s star rating of energy efficiency rating is an important factor to consider during its purchase. However, the energy efficiency can be affected installation location, usage, climate, ambient air and water temperature, humidity, number of sunny days, insulation, windows and other factors.
It basically compares gas heater efficiency or wall furnace efficiency by the amount of raw energy input consumed by the gas heater in comparison to the heat energy output provided.
When doing a LPG heater star rating comparison, do note – star Ratings for unflued gas heaters are from 5.8 to 5.9 Stars, meaning that they have about 90% gas heater efficiency. Flued heater have 1.0 to 4.8 Stars and 61% to 84% gas heater efficiency. So, you could save as much as 32% of the cost of heating by choosing unflued gas heaters compared with some flued gas heaters.
For a gas heater efficiency (gas energy rating) comparison, including gas fireplace and wall furnace efficiency, we rely on Star Ratings. Initially the energy efficiency labeling scheme for gas heaters, both flued and portable LPG heaters, was started as an industry gas energy rating program, run by the Australia Gas Association (AGA).
LPG heater star ratings provide a relative gas heater efficiency comparison based on tested and labeling, a gas energy rating which is required for all gas heating units, including wall furnace efficiency. Understanding Star Ratings, and the gas heater efficiency comparison behind them, can save you lots of money.
LPG Heater Star Rating
Certain appliances can have their gas energy efficiency rating and performance affected by the installation location climate zone, ambient temperature, set temperature, home insulation, incoming water temperature, set temperature, and other variables.
Wall LPG Heater Star Rating
A wall LPG heater star rating or efficiency is the same as other flued gas heaters. It basically compares gas wall heater efficiency by the amount of raw energy input consumed by the gas wall heater in comparison to the heat energy output provided.
LPG Heating
Indoor gas heater types include unflued portable gas heaters, flued gas heaters, radiant gas heaters, convector gas heaters, radiant-convectors, and gas fireplaces.
What do LPG Heater star ratings mean?
Star ratings (gas energy rating) were developed to provide consumers with an easy way of comparing the energy efficiency of different gas heater models. It has now become part of the certification requirements. All States now require both LPG and Natural Gas heaters for sale to be tested and certified, under AS4553. Testing is done by independent testing organisations, such as the AGA and SAI Global. See Gas heater star energy ratings HERE.
How do you use this information?
Example 1
Say, for instance, you have an old gas heater that is only 1 Star Rated and you spend about $400 per year on gas to run it.
If, for example, you upgrade to a 5.8 Star Rinnai Avenger gas heater, you would save roughly 30% on your energy costs, or $120 per year.
As it is not unusual for a gas heater to last 20 years, this means you could save $2400 over the lifetime of the heater, less the initial cost of the new gas heater.
Example 2
In a different example, using the same $400 hypothetical gas budget, if you had the choice between purchasing a 2.5 Star model and a 3.5 Star model, the savings would be 6% or $480 greater with the 3.5 Star model over 20 years.
However, if the 3.5 Star model were to cost you $600 more to buy, than the 2.5 Star model, the savings would never equal the added purchase cost.
Having this information could affect your choice of heaters.
Combination of Purchase Price & Operating Cost
Remember that you need to consider both the purchase price and the cost to operate the heater when making a decision.
Please also remember that the more efficient the heater, the smaller your carbon footprint.