What an Energy Efficient Boiler Will Do For You

As the price of energy skyrockets, home and business owners continue to search for ways to drive costs downward. An energy efficient boiler will not only cut costs, it’s a great way for people to conserve energy and help protect our fragile environment.

A boiler heats water or steam and circulates it through the house to provide warmth. Boilers can be powered by electricity, fuel oil or natural gas. Boiler design has come a long, long way in recent years as manufacturers strive to meet stricter energy conservation guidelines. Thanks to the new design and tighter power consumption requirements, a number of energy efficient boilers have been introduced to the market. Boilers powered by fuel oil and natural have especially become more energy efficient.

One way boilers have become more energy efficient is the use of electronic ignition. Boilers, like water heaters and clothes dryers, used to rely on pilot lights that burned around the clock, wasting fuel during those times the boiler wasn’t generating heat.

An energy efficient boiler uses less fuel

Another hallmark of an energy efficient boiler is the use of new technology to extract more heat from the same amount of fuel. Not only does this save money on fuel costs, it also reduces the need for fuel production, which reduces pollution. Some boilers also feature changes in the combustion chamber, which reduces draft and increases energy efficiency as well as safety.

The U.S. government rates different appliances, including boilers, through its Energy Star program. Products can earn the government’s Energy Star rating by meeting tough energy usage guidelines. An energy efficient boiler earning the Energy Star rating can save consumers hundreds of dollars in utilities costs in the course of a year, experts say. Moreover, the boiler can pay for itself through lower heating costs over the course of its life, they say.

Buying an energy efficient boiler

In purchasing an energy efficient boiler, experts say it’s important to buy one that has enough heating capacity – but not too much or too little. A boiler that’s too large will only use more fuel and cost you more money, even if it’s an energy efficient boiler. Conversely, a boiler that’s too small for your home or business will struggle to adequately warm it. That will cost you money as the boiler runs constantly.

The type of fuel the boiler uses will also affect your costs. Experts say natural gas is a good choice if it’s available because fuel oil prices tend to be volatile. Traditionally, electric boilers cost more than other types, but those prices have come down in recent years, experts say.

Having an energy efficient boiler in your home or business will help keep costs down and go a long way in helping protect the environment.