In mechanical systems, what does the acronym 'AFUE' mean?

The acronym 'AFUE' stands for Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency. This term is used primarily in the context of heating appliances, such as furnaces and boilers, to indicate how efficiently they convert fuel into heat over the course of a year. AFUE is expressed as a percentage, where a higher percentage indicates more efficient use of energy.

This measurement is crucial for understanding the energy consumption of heating systems, as it helps consumers evaluate the efficiency of different models when making purchasing decisions. The higher the AFUE rating of a unit, the more efficient it is in converting fuel to usable heat, resulting in lower energy costs and reduced environmental impact.