Boiler Efficiency
But just how efficient are Greenstar boilers? Every Worcester Greenstar boiler is rated in the highest possible category – SEDBUK Band ‘A’. That’s at least 90% efficient. Natural gas costs have risen dramatically over the last 3 years, so the benefits of installing ‘A’ rated appliances rather than less efficient ‘B’ rated boilers is even more important. SEDBUK RATING
Condensing The term 'condensing' is derived from the creation of condensation within the heat exchanger or flue. This liquid will need to be conveyed away to a drain via a plastic discharge pipe run by the installing engineer. When combustion of any kind takes place water vapour is always produced. In a 'standard efficiency' boiler the flue gas temperature is kept relatively high to avoid condensation and its related issues. But in a high efficiency boiler, so much of the heat produced in the combustion process is absorbed by the heat exchanger into the heating water and very little is wasted to the atmosphere via the flue, hence less fuel is burned to achieve the same results but the consequence is condensation which is dealt with in the appropriate manner. About High Efficiency A high-efficiency condensing boiler is by far the most efficient and economical boiler money can buy. Choose wisely and it will prove to be an investment, not an expense. The term ‘condensing’ is derived from the creation of condensation within the boiler or flue system, which is a natural process when combustion of any kind takes place. A condensing boiler is more efficient due to its ability to extract more heat from the gas used. Perhaps the term ‘high efficiency’ in is best summed up by this staggering fact: if every home in the UK installed a high-efficiency condensing boiler, the money saved would cover the cost of the annual fuel and power bills of more than two million households.* The Worcester Greenstar condensing boilers are all rated in SEDBUK Band A – the highest efficiency band achievable. They are more than 90% efficient – which in simple terms means that over 90% of the gas consumed when the burner is firing is converted into heat for your heating and hot water system. So there’s very little energy wastage, resulting in very economical running costs and lower bills. You need less gas or oil to achieve the same heat – so they simply make sense. By comparison, many older boilers in use around the UK operate at as low as 50% efficiency – that’s 50p of every pound of your fuel bill ‘disappearing up the chimney’ – does that make sense? No it doesn’t, and that’s why the Government is acting to stop it. Many others are hovering around 70-75% efficiency, but that’s still a quarter of your bill that is wasted. The good news is that replacing an old boiler with a new high-efficiency condensing boiler could give you immediate savings of around 30% on your heating bills.* * Source: Energy Saving Trust, 2005 |
