Modern boilers 'improve energy efficiency'

6 February 2008

Modern oil-fired boilers can play a major role in improving energy efficiency, according to a new study.

Research conducted by the UCD Energy Research Group found that it is possible to transform the majority of existing homes to make them 40 per cent more energy efficient, reports the Irish Independent.

The group's report revealed that to make the energy savings using renewable solutions such as solar heating costs €9,955, but that to achieve the same impact by upgrading conventional technology costs just €4,240.

One of the reasons for this is that old boilers can be as much as 75 per cent less efficient than modern condensing models, the newspaper noted, adding: "With the newer models, most of the gas or oil is converted into heat when the boiler is firing as opposed to going up the flue as in standard boilers."

Meanwhile, the cost of heating oil futures fell by 3.68 cents to $2.4465 (€1.67) a gallon on Tuesday, as concerns about the condition of the US economy continued to affect energy prices.