Green Energy Advice and help

magnum9

sorrry - this is a moan....

I want to "go green" but i've spent ages on the web looking for an ultra efficient oil condensing boiler, domestic turbines, domestic solar panels etc - and to be honest they are all sooooooo expensive.

there must be an answer!

i know thatgrants are available but even then the cost is massive.

I'd like to establish one fact:

Does anyone know which oil fired boiler is the most energy efficient available in the uk?

my boiler is 15 - trianco - so getting old.

conflicting advice not to buy condensing oil boilers - whereas gas ones are recommended in condensing mode wtc.

what on earth is a green domestic goddess to do?

any suggestions?

simonm_3

Hi Magnum,

I've just gone solar and have also just discovered moneysavingexpert. I'm very happy with my solar hot water system. I admit I've only had it just over a month but I will have heated all my hot water today for free and its March the 12th! I've logged my experience on my websitesolarkent . As to changing your oil fired boiler. Think carefully as thereare very few gains to be made, basically an oil fired boiler is a jacket of hot water with an oil fire in the middle! There's not that much more to do to make them more efficient and the environmental cost of replacing a boiler before end of life can easily offset any marginal efficiency savings.

magnum9

simonm wrote:

Hi Magnum,

I've just gone solar and have also just discovered moneysavingexpert. I'm very happy with my solar hot water system. I admit I've only had it just over a month but I will have heated all my hot water today for free and its March the 12th! I've logged my experience on my websitesolarkent . As to changing your oil fired boiler. Think carefully as thereare very few gains to be made, basically an oil fired boiler is a jacket of hot water with an oil fire in the middle! There's not that much more to do to make them more efficient and the environmental cost of replacing a boiler before end of life can easily offset any marginal efficiency savings.

Now I really am confused!

My boiler is 15 years old, NOT condensing - was designed when sold to run at just over 80% efficiency - but on sedbuk etc there are now condensing oil fired boilers running at well over 90% - some as high as 97%.

So, in my simple mind I am thinking that a saving of 15-20% on oil is easily achievable.

I am so confused as gas condensing boilers seem a one way bet but when i mention oil everyone says "ah, well, now, oil ermm, its different..not so straight forward...you may save but not much - my boiler engineer tells me this but i think he is anti towards new technology.

I just cant seem to find a straight answer.

Hope you can appreciate why it is so puzzling to me