{"id":2172,"date":"2013-11-12T10:30:13","date_gmt":"2013-11-12T10:30:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.housingenergyadvisor.com\/blog\/?p=2172"},"modified":"2015-03-09T11:23:21","modified_gmt":"2015-03-09T11:23:21","slug":"guide-to-energy-efficient-boilers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.housingenergyadvisor.com\/blog\/guide-to-energy-efficient-boilers\/","title":{"rendered":"A guide to energy efficient boilers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Scottish Power are the latest of the big energy companies to announce a hike in costs, with the BBC reporting<\/a> that the supplier will be increasing its prices by 8.6% as of December 2013.<\/p>\n

The prospect that the energy suppliers will reduces fees is an unlikely one, suggesting that the only way of reducing our energy costs is by adapting our homes to be more energy efficient.<\/p>\n

Your boiler is in constant use throughout the winter, heating your home and supplying you with hot water – in fact, your boiler accounts for 60% of your yearly energy costs.\u00a0 Swapping it for an energy efficient design is therefore the most effective way of reducing your energy bills. Take a look at some of the options, which could replace your existing gas or oil boiler.<\/p>\n

Regular Boiler<\/h2>\n

\"<\/a>A regular boiler stores hot water in a tank and is actually the most efficient method of transforming fuel to heat. However, the water in the tank is susceptible to heat loss, especially if it doesn\u2019t have adequate insulation. Installing this insulation is a simple, cheap measure that you can take care of yourself. Take a look at this YouTube video<\/a>, which gives you some great advice on fitting insulation to a water tank.<\/p>\n

This is most efficient option if you live in a house with lots of people, where hot water is constantly in demand. That said, you\u2019ll need space to store the tank, such as an airing cupboard or enough space in the attic.<\/p>\n

A regular boiler and water tank is also the best option if you\u2019re considering or already have solar heating panels on your roof.<\/p>\n

Combi Boiler<\/h2>\n

A combi boiler is designed to produce hot water as and when you need it. For this reason, they\u2019re more energy efficient for smaller houses where hot water is not in demand. The design of a combi boilers means that it doesn\u2019t require a water tank, thus eliminating the issue of heat loss in this way. However, this also means that combi boilers can\u2019t be used with solar heating systems, as there isn\u2019t anywhere to store water heated by solar panels.<\/p>\n

Biomass Boiler<\/h2>\n

Biomass boilers are a fantastic option if you\u2019re determined to lower your energy costs and reduce the carbon footprint of your home. They\u2019re powered by wood and although wood releases carbon dioxide as it burns, this is compensated by the oxygenating properties of the tree during its lifetime. It is effectively carbon neutral.<\/p>\n