Options for how you heat your home have varying impacts on air quality in your home and neighborhood which can affect your health, and also on greenhouse gas emissions which contribute to climate change.

Review your options to determine which device and fuel choice best fits your needs. Use the table below to compare the emissions levels of the home heating device options: 

Heating Device	Climate Emissions	Air Pollution Emissions
Electric Heat Pump	Best Choice for Low Climate Emissions	Best Choice for Low Air Pollution Emissions
Natural Gas Furnace	More Climate Emissions than Wood Heat	Less Air Pollution Emissions than Wood Heat
Wood Stove or Fireplace	Less Climate Emissions than a Gas Furnace	More Air Pollution Emissions than a Gas Furnace

Electric Heat Pumps

Electric heat pumps bring the most energy efficiency to home heating and also have the benefit of cooling in the summer months. They offer the best option for air quality and climate with minimal fine particle pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. While expensive, many incentives exist to help offset the cost.    

Ductless heat pumps (DHPs), also called mini-splits, work well in smaller homes or spaces without a duct system. Learn more about DHPs at Energy Star.

For homes with existing ductwork, air-source heat pumps (ASHPs) use an air handler to move the warm or cold air into your home rather than burning fuel to heat the air. Learn more about ASHPs at Energy Star.

Find additional resources at Energy Star to learn more about both types of heat pumps, how they work, as well as shopping and installation considerations.

Natural Gas Furnaces

Energy Star-rated gas furnaces can help you save money on fuel expenses each year, compared to older furnaces. Gas furnaces emit low amounts of fine particle pollution, which provides better air quality than wood heat. However, natural gas is a fossil fuel that contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and climate change.  

Check out the product information and rebate finder on the Energy Star website.

Wood Heat

Wood stoves are a substantial contributor to fine particle pollution in our region, which has significant health impacts. Because of their impact to fine particle pollution, wood stoves cannot be used in a Stage II burn ban. Since they do not use a fossil fuel, wood stoves have less climate impact than natural gas furnaces.

When used properly and burning only dry seasoned firewood, EPA certified wood stoves burn over 60% more cleanly than old uncertified wood stoves. Look for a High Heating Value (HHV) of at least 75% to get the most efficiency from your stove or insert, and be eligible for the federal biomass tax credit.

If you’re ready to replace your old wood stove with a cleaner option, check out our Wood Stove Recycling incentive program. If you’re not quite ready to make the switch, be sure to review our Cleaner Burning Practices to learn how to get the most efficient heat out of your wood stove.

Resources & Incentives

Check out these resources to find out what’s available to you.

Wood Stove Recycling Program

The Switch Is On Washington - Why Switch to Electric | The Switch Is On

FundHubWA - Your gateway to grants and incentives