Getting into hot water

British Gas: Engineer and insulated hot water tank

It might surprise you to know that it isn't your television, dishwasher or fridge that uses the most energy in your home - the most likely culprit is your boiler. Making sure it's energy efficient can save you a lot of energy over the course of a year. Always ensure your boiler is working as well as it can by having it checked regularly by a qualified engineer.
"A new A-rated boiler and controls should save you around 35-40% compared to one that is about 15 years old (Source: Energy Saving Trust Sept 06). As the boiler uses about 70% of your total energy, this could be a big saving." The cost? "It should be between £2,500 and £3,000 fully fitted depending on the options you want to have."

The power of the sun
According to Tony, adding solar water heating would be "the icing on the cake" for a house like the Clarks'. However, if the family didn't want to invest in solar power now, they could take simple steps to ensure it was "solar ready" for the future. A high recovery twin coil cylinder could be included in the new installation, which would make adding solar panels later easier.
Mary thought the initial outlay for solar panels was a step further than they wanted to go, but the idea of ensuring the boiler was 'solar ready' was appealing.

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