Gas Boiler

Pimlico Flats believe passionately in cutting waste and reducing our carbon footprint.  I have to say that before confessing my total confusion about the Government’s Boiler Scrappage scheme.

Figures seem to say that there are 4,000,000 inefficient gas boilers in the country that should be replaced by more efficient models that use less energy, saving £200/year in gas bills. The government will pay £400/Boiler to folks who replace their boilers with the the most efficient types – but if it’s such a good idea …. why is it being limited to 125.000 boilers – just 3% of these inefficient boilers?

Could the answer be that modern condensing boilers have half the life of the older boilers? How much carbon does it take to manufacture a replacement “efficient” boiler? I have no idea, but I do know that if you measure carbon in £ then the equation doesn’t add up. An old inefficient boiler or a new efficient boiler costs around £2000 including all the carbon costs of delivery, and installation. A typical life of an old boiler is 15 years, and of a new one is 7 years (the shortest life we experienced was 18 months!), whilst the carbon saving is £200/year. So here is my Carbon Comparison:

Replacement Boiler Carbon Costs:

Installation £2000

Lifetime – 7 Years

Existing “Inefficient” Boiler running for 7 years

Excess Carbon Costs £200 p.a. – total £1400.

Excuse me – but surely it HAS to be more environmentally friendly to leave an existing boiler in place than to manufacture a new boiler and send the old one to landfill?

Seriously – if you can explain this lunacy to me – please do!