Save Cash, Protect The Environment With A Biomass Boiler

By Author: Hassie Humbird
Total Articles: 2
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As it becomes increasingly more vital that people look after our planet and keep close track of our carbon emissions, savvy home-owners have started to look into alternative sources of energy such as biomass boilers. Luckily the UK government is on our side, and many incentives are now accessible to increase the prevalence of eco-friendly heating systems like biomass boilers under the Renewable Heat Initiative.

A Bit of Background

Put simply, biomass is living or recently living materials which can be burned for energy - unlike the long-dead animals that make up our coal, oil and natural gases. Use of biomass boilers continues to be popular in rural areas away from conventional energy grids for decades, although single house boilers have become more affordable and popular to those who are concerned about their energy output.

Eco-friendly

Materials which can be used in biomass boilers have a very important quality - they have what is known a "closed carbon cycle" which means that the dangerous gases released during burning are counteracted by the results of trees absorbing carbon dioxide from the ...
... air. Wooden pellets are probably the most environmentally-friendly option as their low moisture content means better efficiency when burned, although logs and wood chips are still suitable alternatives. The patented turbulator baffle system in the biomass boilers invented by Grant Engineering in the UK and Ireland recycles 20% in the wasted heat into the machine, offering 94% heat efficiency in contrast to the 91% which can be common in conventional gas boilers. Grant UK's biomass boilers even have their particular patented turbulator baffle system which recycles waste heat back into the machine, and have up to 94% efficiency.

Why Biomass?

The biggest motivating factor for producing the switch is almost certainly the environmental considerations, although there are bonuses. While they can be quite expensive to buy and install, you can save approximately £80 annually on bills when compared with a gas heater, and over £500 when replacing an electric heating system. It is estimated that once installed, they can cost £500 less per year to run than an electric heater and up to £80 less than a gas heater - so whilst the initial cost can run quite high, they save considerable amounts of money over time. Wooden pellets are created from compressed sawdust waste from timber mills, which means they cost virtually nothing to make, and as more UK-based companies begin selling them they become significantly more environmentally friendly than shipping from another country. These are more often than not cheaper to buy in tonnes rather than single bags, although a shed or garage may be required for storage!

Biomass boilers do you their problems

Some misconceptions of biomass boilers have prevented their popularity from more and more mainstream. The size issue continues to be prohibitive for some people, although increasingly smaller models are always being released, which means you may not need an entire shed or garage to accommodate the machine. The installation prices are another factor which can dissuade potential buyers, although government schemes like the Renewable Heat Incentive are ensuring this becomes less of a problem. Log and chip burning machines have received a poor reputation for needing to be cleaned regularly, but Grant UK and Ireland's boilers need just one check a year because the auto-feeding and cleaning systems take most of the work off both hands.

Log and chip burning machines have obtained a bad track record of needing to be cleaned regularly, but Grant UK and Ireland's boilers need just one check a year as the auto-feeding and cleaning systems take most of the work off your hands.

Consider a biomass boiler to be an investment

A biomass boiler is a big investment with a considerable starting cost, sometimes 3 times as expensive as a gas boiler, even though it should last throughout your daily life and the price of wood pellets is significantly below the price of gas which will simply keep going up. Most wood pellet burning boilers need very occasional check-ups which takes away any maintenance stress and can reduce the costs of having a technician visit your house. Invest in your house and later on of the earth by considering the benefits of a biomass boiler.