Cut down on carbon with a condensing boiler

A condensing boiler is so called because they turn the water vapour from burning gas into liquid water in the form of condensation, thereby re-using the heat from the exhaust gases, that would otherwise escape through the flue, to help heat the water in the boiler.
Condensing boilers are far more efficient than non condensing boilers, due to the design of the heat exchanger, which transfers as much heat as possible from the burner to the water by trapping and condensing the exhaust gases.

There are two main types of condensing boiler. Regular condensing boilers heat up a cylinder of water, and combination condensing boilers heat the water as it is drawn from the water supply, giving you instant hot water without having to have a cylinder. A combination boiler is a better choice for a smaller dwelling, as it is cheaper and more efficient, but for homes that require two or more simultaneous streams of hot water, such as those fitted with more than one shower, a cylinder is required. A qualified installer from a firm such as British Gas* will be able to tell you which type of boiler is best for your home.

If your current boiler is over ten years old, then the chances are that it is not of the high efficiency condensing type. By replacing an old boiler with a new high efficiency condensing model, you can save more than a third from your fuel bills straight away.

The central heating system and hot water supply are typically responsible for over sixty percent of a household’s carbon dioxide emissions. By replacing your old boiler with a new efficient model, with modern thermostat controls, you can save nearly £300 per year from your energy bills, and cut down your carbon dioxide emissions by a staggering one and a half tonnes annually.

If every single home in Britain was fitted with a high efficiency condensing boiler, we would cut our national carbon footprint by around thirteen million tonnes of carbon dioxide, and would save enough energy to heat three and a half million homes for a whole year.

*Visit the UK’s leading gas and electricity suppliers for more information.