ENERGY EFFICIENT BOILERS

LESSER KNOWN FACTS ABOUT BOILERS

Boilers account for around 55 % of what you spend in a year on energy bills, so an efficient
boiler makes a big difference.

A high-efficiency condensing boiler with full sets of heating controls, we would save enough
energy to heat nearly 1.9 million homes for a whole year, and save around 6.7 million tonnes
of CO2.

Based on a saving of 25% gas usage, the Energy Saving Trust estimates the average saving
per household on energy bills after installing a new boiler to be INR 23817.3.

WHY ARE NEW BOILERS MORE EFFICIENT?

Since October 2010 only boilers that are 88% or more efficient can be installed in homes, and
most of the boilers you can buy now are between 88% and 98.7% efficient.

A condensing boiler has a bigger heat exchanger, so it recovers more heat, sends cooler gases
up the flue and is more efficient.

Sometimes the flue gases get so cool that the water vapour in the gas condenses out. When
this happens, even more energy is recovered from the condensing vapour, and the efficiency
gets higher still.

HOW IS BOILER EFFICIENCY CALCULATED?

Sedbuk, which stands for Seasonal Efficiency of Domestic Boilers in the UK, is a system used to
classify and compare boilers on how efficient they are at converting fuel into heat.
Sedbuk efficiencies: how boilers compare

Traditionally, Sedbuk ratings were shown on labels as a letter A-G, but these letter labels have been
withdrawn to avoid confusion with the European energy labels, which use similar ratings but are
based on different principles.
There are currently two different types of Sedbuk ratings you may see on labels, reflecting the old
and new types of Sedbuk ratings.

Sedbuk 2005 - this older system of Sedbuk ratings rates boiler efficiency from A to G rating,
with A-rated boilers being more than 90% efficient.
Sedbuk 2009 - this newer system of ratings shows boiler efficiency as a percentage, rather than
A-G.
All new boilers should be rated using Sedbuk 2009, but you may still see older models which were
tested under the old Sedbuk 2005 system.
You can check how the different types of ratings compare using the chart you'll find under our list of
frequently asked questions about boilers.
Under the new Sedbuk 2009 system, a Sedbuk 2005 90% efficient A-rated gas, oil or LGP boiler
works out as 88% efficient. The 2% difference between Sedbuk 2005 and 2009 is mainly down to
differences in efficiencies between using a boiler for space heating in the winter months and only

using it for water heating in the summer. Manufacturers often prominently display the Sedbuk 2005
in their product literature because it gives them a higher efficiency figure.

WILL AN EFFICIENT NEW BOILER SAVE YOU MONEY?

Based on a saving of 25% gas usage, the Energy Saving Trust estimates the average saving per
household on energy bills after installing a new boiler to be 310. This does not take into account
how much installing a new boiler will cost.
The table below illustrates just how much a modern condensing boiler could cut your gas bills by,
depending on the size of your house (a boiler that's 15 years old or more is classed as 'old' in these
calculations. A lightweight boiler can be attached to a wall; a heavyweight boiler is floor standing.)
Annual fuel costs with different boiler types (source: Sedbuk)
Boiler type

Efficiency

Flat

Bungalow

Terraced

Semi-detached

Detached

Old gas heavy weight

55%

779

1020

1062

1204

1705

Old gas light weight

65%

659

863

898

1019

1442

New non-condensing

78%

549

719

749

849

1202

New condensing

89%

481

630

656

744

1053

These figures are based on a gas unit price of 4.36p per kWh (April 2013)

INSTALLING A NEW BOILER

If it is time to change your boiler, then the first thing is to decide what type of boiler you need.
The right fuel
If you have mains gas, then a gas boiler is usually the cheapest heating system for you.
If you dont have a gas supply to your home, it might be worth looking into getting a gas connection.
If there is no gas pipe near your home then this may not be an option, but if it's available just round
the corner then it might be worth paying for a new connection. The company that owns and operates
the gas network in your area may be able to help with the cost of getting a new connection, and it
may even be fully funded.
To discuss a new gas connection, and to find out if you can obtain help towards all or part of the
cost, contact the company that owns the gas network in your area.
The right boiler
Most old gas and oil boilers are regular boilers - they have a separate hot water cylinder to store hot
water, rather than providing it directly from the boiler. When you replace your boiler you have a
choice of buying a new regular boiler, and keeping your hot water cylinder, or buying a combi boiler
that doesn't need a cylinder.
A regular boiler is more efficient than a combi at producing hot water in the first place, but then
some heat is lost from the hot water cylinder, so a combi may be more efficient overall. The best
option for you will depend on a number of factors:

How much hot water do you use? A large family using lots of hot water could be better off with
a regular boiler a smaller household using less may be better off with a combi.

Are you short of space? A combi boiler doesnt need a hot water cylinder, and so needs less
space.
Are you thinking of installing solar water heating? Many combis are not compatible with solar
water heating or cannot use it so effectively.