Currently the epa and government are looking to put in legislation to make all furnaces installed for northern climates 97% and for southern 95% efficient. This is a push done by the government to reduce global warming potenital.
What does this mean for everyday consumers. The cost of equipment will go up and the utility bills will go down in relative terms but the price of gas and electric could go up.
The manufacturing that are creating this higher efficiency are also creating more dependable blowers to circulate the air. This means that the space will have a more stead temperature and no temperature swings like on some of the older units.