Compared to traditional boilers, energy efficient boilers can save you, on average, between £190 and £240 a year, which can make a massive difference to your bills over 15 years (the current average boiler lifespan).
As a guide to energy efficiency in boilers, you can check an individual boiler's rating by referring to the government's SEDBUK scheme. This gives each boiler an efficiency band on a ‘A’ to ‘G’ scale (‘A’ being the most energy efficient central heating boilers).
Bands A & B are classed as high efficiency, bands C to G are standard efficiency. If you wish to install a standard energy efficiency boiler you will need to apply to your council for special permission - all new installations have to be high efficiency. All Glow-worm boilers are A or B rated and are high energy efficient gas boilers.
You can have on of the world's most energy efficient boilers yet if it is running needlessly throughout the day or night it will be running inefficiently. Good heating controls ensure that the boiler is only working when heat is needed in your home. An electronic timer or programmer and room thermostat are examples of heating controls.
There are lots of different controls you should also ask your installer about the best one for your system.
View the heating controls we offer here.
As well as installing an energy efficient boiler, you may be surprised at just how many energy saving measures you can take around the home - from turning off your TV rather than leaving it on standby to installing cavity wall and loft insulation. For a complete guide visit the government's Energy Saving Trust website.
* There are some exceptions to this rule in the Building Regulations relating to period/listed properties where installing a SEDBUK A or B boiler is not always physically possible. However these are few and far between and you have to gain approval from your council to install a boiler which is not classed as high efficiency.