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In recent years it has become more apparent that we need to take greater care of our environment. This is due to the fact that greenhouse gases and extreme weather conditions are all contributing to global warming and some drastic changes in the way we live needs to be done.

An important part of this is the fact that an an estimated 25% of the UK’s carbon emissions come from our own homes. Furthermore, 70% of these emissions come from the energy we use to provide heat and hot water. So how can we change this? This is where high efficiency boilers come into play. High efficiency boilers are capable of making drastic change to the environment, if everyone has one installed in their homes. For one thing, they are 90% more efficient, meaning that over 90% of gas consumed when the burner is firing is converted into heat for the heating and hot water system.

If you compare this figure with an older boiler you will see the huge difference. Many of the older boilers operate at a 70-75% efficiency, some even being as low as 50%. Therefore, it is easy to see how the environment is more impacted compared to high efficiency boilers which are more green-friendly.

Therefore if you are faced with a choice to either repair or replace your boiler system, you will need to think about a number of factors. If you have the correct information, then you should be able to make a well-informed decision based on your individual circumstances.

The first point for consideration for most people before they decide to make a purchase is cost. It is true that most home-owners are deterred from installing a high efficiency boiler due to the high installation charges and the cost of the appliance. They find it more practical sometimes to just spend a little extra to repair the boiler rather than replacing the whole thing. However, the long-term benefits are often overlooked in these scenarios. For instance, it is fine to use the option of repairing if your boiler is not that old. But what if your boiler is really old and has continuously given you problems? If you keep repairing the same boiler, you may end up spending more money in the long run in comparison to just purchasing a new high efficiency boiler.

You should note that installing a high efficiency boiler will not only save you money on fuel bills, but also help to meet the government’s target of reducing carbon emissions by 20% by 2010.

How much money could I save?

If you decide to go for a high efficiency boiler, you may be looking at saving between 190 and 240 a year or around one third of your heating bills straight away. In addition, installing the correct heating controls could potentially save you up to 40% of your bills.

The average lifespan of a boiler is 10-15 years. If you feel the timer is finally running out for your boiler, it is advisable to shop around for a new high efficiency boiler.

More and more people are turning to solar thermal water heating systems as an alternative to using conventional water heating systems. There are many different reasons behind this. Many are willing to spend more initially to save on costs in the long term. As the saying goes; short term pain for long-term gain. For others, they are thinking more strategically, installing solar thermal water heating systems as a way of adding more value to their property.

There are many points you should consider before you decide to make your purchase. You should think about:

What is the amount of hot water you will be using?

Where are you located?

How does the cost of installing a solar water heating system compare to other water heating systems?

A Solar Thermal Water Heater explained

A solar thermal water heater uses the sun’s radiation to heat the water. You will find that most solar thermal water heaters will include storage tanks and solar collectors. Many solar thermal water heaters can be used alone or in conjunction with a conventional water heating system.

So how does it work?

The dynamics behind how the water gets heated is quite straight forward. The sunlight hits the solar thermal collectors which in turn absorb the energy from the sun. This energy is then transferred to the water in the storage tank. The solar loop is responsible for preheating the water before coming into the water heater. This essentially means that very little or no energy is required by the conventional heater to heat up the incoming hot water. It is always useful to have the conventional water heater there as a back up device just in case a drab and gloomy day decides to make an appearance.

Swimming pool heating

Solar thermal heating has been popular for use in swimming pools. Especially if the pool only needs to be used during the summer, this method of heating can be the most cost effective way. The system is likely to be less complicated to use as it will not need to be operated all year long. The dynamics of a solar pool heating system will usually comprise of solar collectors, pipe work, heat exchanger, and a control system. The installation of the parts will depend on a variety of factors, such as the specification and location.

What are the main advantages behind installing a solar thermal water heating system?

There are many advantages behind installing a thermal water heating system. For instance, not only will you be responsible for reducing carbon dioxide emissions in the environment, you will also make a huge amount of savings that will last you a lifetime. Statistics have reported that installing a solar thermal water heating system can save up to five times the energy used by an electric boiler.

It is important to not devalue the significance of a solar thermal water heater