Baxi Group has just launched what they describe as a breakthrough in micro-CHP for the home.

For those that have forgotten, CHP stands for Combined Heat and Power, and are the new trend in modern domestic heating systems. And Baxi claim that their Ecogen is the first commercially available micro-CHP unit for the home.

Mark Kelly, Baxi Group’s CEO, said:
“Baxi Ecogen heralds the most important step-change for the home heating industry since the condensing boiler. This is the first, wall-hung micro-CHP unit which can be specified by local authorities, housing associations and private developers.

“It will help them meet Level 3 of the Code for Sustainable Homes, tackle fuel poverty issues more effectively and significantly cut carbon emissions. Baxi Ecogen is a unique, world-class technology for the 21st century home.”

The Ecogen boasts a Free Piston Stirling Engine which generates up to 1kWh of electricity, at the same time as giving lots of space heating and hot water. An initial heat demand of up to 6kW ignites the engine gas burner, which in turn causes the gas to expand inside the Free Piston Stirling Engine, which moves a piston up and down inside a coil of copper. This generates electricity in much the same way as a car’s alternator.

Once the heat demand is more than 6kW, then a supplementary burner kicks in to supply a further 18kW of extra heat.

Baxi has carried out extensive trials of the Ecogen, which showed that their micro-CHP can cater for two-thirds of electrical needs for an average household. And any electricity that the householder does not need, can be exported back to the National Grid.

And Baxi has deliberately designed the appliance to have the feel, look and dimensions of a conventional wall-hung boiler. The Ecogen unit has also been made to suit open vented and sealed heating systems, which means that it will be a viable choice in both replacement jobs and new-build projects.

Baxi also has produced a wide range of intelligent controls which have been specifically designed to control and monitor energy efficiency, and increase the comfort of the user.

Guest Article by Neil Camp

If you are thinking of getting a new hot water boiler, you should look at installing a combination boiler. It will take up around the same space, if not slightly less, than your old boiler and you will save money and the environment by making the change.

How does the combi boiler work?  

Why does a combi boiler benefit me?  

Looking for a new combi boiler? Compare boilers using our comparison table.

Guest Article by Louise Goldstein

Baxi gas boilers have been around since 1966 when they first introduced the Bermuda back fired gas boiler. However the history of this much respected brand goes all the way back to 1866, when its founder Richard Baxendale launched the company with Joseph Heald. Today it is one of the largest manufacturers of gas boilers in Europe.

Baxi offer a range of products and are especially famous for manufacturing compact and energy efficient units. One such example is the Baxi condensing boiler 100/2 HE Plus. This is a wall mounted open vented system, which is easy to install and integrates seamlessly into your home. This great value baxi boiler is A-rated and runs at about 90% efficiency, it costs about £800 – £900.

Guest Article by Louise Goldstein

If you want to buy a cheap gas boiler you should apply for the new boiler scrappage scheme. Unfortunately, if you have already done so you may have to wait a bit longer than expected. 

Guest Article by Louise Goldstein

The boiler scrappage scheme was welcomed by consumers and industry alike as a great way to help people improve the efficiency of their heating systems and at the same time stimulate flagging businesses, but the scheme has hit problems.

Recent national newspaper reports have revealed that applicants are waiting to receive their vouchers and the call centres are experiencing a backlog of calls.

The scheme is so structured that only those with a voucher (received after lodging a valid quote from a Gas Safe Registered heating engineer) can have the work started. But the vouchers are reportedly suffering long delays as scheme staff cannot cope with demand.

The voucher is worth £400 and was created to encourage people to swap their old boilers – rated G, X or non-rated – for new A rated boilers which are over 90% efficient as opposed to between 50% and 70% efficient. The scheme is being administered by the Energy Saving Trust.

But such was the enthusiastic response that the call centre had quickly received some 160,000 calls for the limited number of vouchers available: at the moment, 135,000. And some 36,000 applicants had been received.

At least say the reports, the number of call centre staff has been doubled and it is now claimed that people who qualify under the scheme will get their vouchers within ten days.

The chief operating officer at the Energy Savings Trust told the media that they had taken the necessary steps to cope with the demand and that things had been dramatically improved, with only a few days backlog remaining and a return to normality quite soon. This included an automatic email being sent to those who contacted the Energy Savings Trust about the boiler scrappage scheme.

The biggest installer of new gas boilers in the UK is British Gas and they have reported that in the first three weeks of January, they had seen a four-fold increase in the number of people asking for a quote as compared to the same period last year. British Gas offer a further £400 rebate over and above the Government voucher, and also offer other incentives on maintenance schemes, services and fittings.

Observers are now concerned that the Energy Savings Trust will have difficulty in processing the payments in time when vouchers are redeemed. The scheme says that voucher payments will only be made on receipt of a valid voucher and paid Gas Safe Registered engineer’s invoice. Payment should then take place in 25 days and the worry is that this system will suffer the same delays as the start of the process.

Guest Article by Neil Camp