Should we replace our gas furnace with a high-efficiency model to cut carbon?

[AaronZM]

I’m trying to figure out if my family’s plan to replace our old gas furnace with a new high-efficiency one is actually a good move for reducing our home’s carbon footprint, or if we’re just locking in another decade of fossil fuel use. The salesperson talked a lot about the annual efficiency gains, but it feels like we’re avoiding the bigger question of getting off gas entirely.

[Gary47]

We swapped in a high efficiency gas furnace last year. Bills dropped a bit, but we still burn gas for hot water and cooking, so our carbon footprint didn't drop as much as we hoped.

[AbigailB]

Is chasing a few more improvement points on the furnace actually the real problem, or should we try to wean off gas entirely and go electric even if it costs more upfront?

[LoganWC]

If you want to stop fossil fuel use, the practical path is a heat pump for heating and weatherization, with solar if possible; the gas switch helps, but it doesn't get you off gas quickly.

[AdamBJ]

I keep thinking about the grid getting greener over the next decade; moving to electric would feel better, but that depends on whether the budget and the local infrastructure line up, so I’m not sure right now.