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

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

With the Government scrappage scheme in full flow, there has never been a better time to buy a new gas boiler. But as with everything, you have to know how to apply.

And British Gas is offering one of the best deals around at the moment, as they not only match the Government’s £400 grant, but add a further £400 (under their own boiler scrappage discount), then throw-in free radiator controls worth £248 and what’s more, offer a year’s free HomeCare 200 which is worth £204. In all, that’s a massive saving of £1,252.

So, if you want the chance of saving £1,252, then ring British Gas now on 0845 074 5994 for your free, no obligation consultation with one of their experienced heating advisors. They will talk you through the options open to you and provide a no obligation quote. The line is open seven days a week from 7am to 9pm.

But, remember this: the Government scheme is on a first come, first served basis, so don’t hang around if you want to save yourself upwards of £1,252. Act now and save yourself some money.

As to how it all works, there are a few things you need to know.

Firstly, you have to live in England.

Secondly, bear in mind that the boiler scrappage scheme is based on replacing less efficient boilers with more efficient boilers. This not only saves you money – it could be as much as £300 a year alone on heating bills – but it also helps save the environment. More efficient boilers means less energy needed in the first place and that means fewer emissions into the environment. In short, it’s a win-win situation for you and the Government.

Most people in the UK still run a less efficient boiler than is available on the market today. So this is the starting point.

And most boilers have for some time been rated under the Seasonal Efficiency of Domestic Boilers in the UK scheme, which thankfully gets abbreviated to SEDBUK. And the good people at SEDBUK have tested virtually all the boilers on sale, or in use, within an average property and rated them accordingly. The top rated A boilers are the most efficient and if you buy a new boiler, it has to be rated A. It means that they are way above 90% efficient and the A SEDBUK rating is the future benchmark for all future boiler installations.

So, thirdly, check the rating on your boiler. If it’s a G-rated appliance, or indeed an X-rated appliance, then you likely have a boiler which is less than 70% efficient. You can begin the process of applying for the boiler scrappage government grant. By the way, the X might have instead the words ‘Efficiency Estimated’, but either way, be assured that it’s not going to be an efficient model.

And, if you can’t find the rating, or you are just a bit unsure, you can still give British Gas a call, because although they do have a very good boiler scrappage offer, they also have great offers on other boiler installations.

Okay, you live in England and your boiler is tainted with the mark G, X, or has the words Efficiency Estimated printed across it.

The next step is to get a recognised heating engineer to give you a quote. British Gas has some of the best engineers out there, but, as always, do not let anyone touch your boiler without their being currently registered on the Gas Safe Register. Only those on the latest register are allowed, by law, to carry out work on gas appliances. But also note that not every engineer is allowed to work on all types of gas appliances, some will only have permission for certain types, so you have to be careful.

The best way to ensure you get the right engineer is go onto the official Gas Safe Register site and physically check out the engineer. This isn’t as ‘Cold War’ as it sounds. When an engineer visits, they should show you their photographic ID card which includes their ID number, their mug shot (check it’s the person holding the card), the name of their business and what gas work they are allowed to carry out. Make a note of the ID number and at a convenient moment, visit the website and load the ID number into their checking facility. It will then quickly give you an answer.

This all might sound ridiculously bureaucratic, but unfortunately, there are quite a few people who die every year through carbon monoxide poisoning, often through faulty workmanship, so just don’t take the risk.

And if you haven’t got access to the internet, telephone +44 (0)800 408 5500 for the same help and advice.

Okay, you’ve checked out your engineer and he’s got a current and valid Gas Safe Register listing. Get him to give you a quote for a new boiler as without a quote, you can’t then contact the Energy Savings Trust who administer the boiler scrappage scheme. Get hold of them via their website, Energy Savings Trust, or telephone 0800 512 012.

They check that you are qualified to benefit from the scheme and if everything is okay, they issue you with a voucher worth £400 which is redeemable from them once you get an invoice for the completed work from your engineer.

So that’s it then and okay, you might have to jump through a few hoops, but the Government are giving you £400 towards a new boiler and what’s more, choose someone like British Gas to install a new boiler for you, and you could save a whopping £1,252.

Just remember, check the efficiency rating of your boiler (if it’s G, or below), get a quote from a properly registered engineer, give that to the Energy Savings Trust, get a voucher and redeem it once you have an invoice for a finished boiler installation. Right, there’ll be a test later!

Guest Article by Neil Camp