Energy efficiency is a major concern for today’s homeowners, what with environmental issues taking centre stage in the national press, and the cost of living being higher than ever.
If you’re looking to reduce your consumption, then you might take any number of steps. You might turn the lights off before leaving a room, or swap your bulbs out for LED alternatives.
By far the most significant savings, however, have to do with your boiler. This is a device that will consume tens of thousands of kilowatt hours when it’s running during winter. The device you choose, therefore, will make a big difference to the amount you spend in the long term.
Electric boilers
Today, electric boilers represent the most popular alternative to the standard gas boiler. They work in much the same way as your kettle: by passing current through a filament that’s designed to distribute heat through a tank of water, which is subsequently pumped around your heating system. Electric boilers need to be wired by a qualified electrician.
Why choose an electric boiler?
An electric boiler is able to do its work while generating zero emissions – provided that the energy is coming from a renewable source. In the UK, an increasing portion of our energy comes from wind and solar, which makes this a reasonably green choice. You’ll also eliminate the risk of a gas leak.
Gas boilers
A gas boiler is a popular option. They come in many forms, with the combi boiler being an increasingly common sight in modern homes. You’ll burn incoming natural gas and then vent the fumes through a hole in the wall. You’ll need to situate your boiler somewhere with a gas supply, which might mean rerouting pipework.
Advantages
Gas boilers tend to be less expensive to run. You’ll also benefit from a much broader range of options. Whatever the size of your home, the chances are good that there will be a boiler powerful enough to heat the entire space.
According to the Energy Saving Trust, around 85% of homes today are attached to the gas network, which means that this is an accessible option for most of us. We should be aware, however, that the cost of gas might fluctuate in the future – perhaps because of world events. Thus, we can’t guarantee that gas boilers will always continue to be cheap to run.
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