Saskatchewan's Green Directory Helping Saskatchewan choose a better environment

What to look for

Consider the following when selecting a new boiler:

Cost vs efficiency

It usually costs more to install a boiler and water pipes than a furnace and air ducts. However, a properly-installed "wet" heating system (whether underfloor pipes or radiators) can enable you to feel comfortable at a lower temperature and so save energy.

Proper Sizing

Make sure the heating capacity of the boiler is not too high for your home - many heating systems are substantially oversized. You can get an estimate of the furnace capacity you need in a number of ways. If you have had an EnerGuide for Houses or ecoENERGY evaluation carried out on your house, it is possible to calculate the heating capacity you require from the annual heating and hot water estimate. Or if you have reliable fuel consumption data for a full year you can run a similar calculation. Or hire an energy consultant / HVAC engineer / building physicist to estimate your heating requirement. Or ask your contractor do an accredited heat loss analysis such as ACCA Manual J. [Simply estimating on the basis of floor area can sometimes result in large errors.]

High Efficiency Condensing Models

The efficiency of new boilers is measured by the annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) (gas-fired) or the seasonal energy utilisation efficiency (SEUE) (oil-fired)--these indicate all-year-round performance, and could be anything from 78% to 96% for a modern boiler. The best modern units are "condensing", which means they include an extra heat exchanger to capture energy by condensing the water vapour given off as the fuel burns. Condensing boilers normally achieve 89% AFUE or higher. For this directory (see criteria here) we set a minimum of 90% AFUE for gas boilers; at present no oil-fired boilers available in the province meet an equivalent standard.

Do you want:

A combination boiler, directly providing domestic hot water as well as space heating? (efficient but requires a larger boiler) Or a unit which provides space heating only, and a separate instantaneous water heater? (efficient, but can be costly) Or a boiler which both provides space heating and heats a hot water tank? (generally cheaper, but tank energy losses are higher)

Government Grants

Grants are available for efficient heating systems from two government programmes: EnerGuide for Houses(Saskatchewan) and ecoEnergy Retrofit(federal).

Criteria