Thursday 27 May 2010

Baxi Ecogen - a revolutionary new way to generate heat


We are all familiar with the issues of climate change and global warming, but did you know that over a quarter of the carbon dioxide emissions in the UK come from the energy we use to heat, light and run our home?

If we are going to make a difference it is vital that the products we use to heat our homes are as energy efficient and environmentally friendly as possible.

So, leading UK heating systems manufacturer Baxi has developed Baxi Ecogen, a combined heat and power appliance that is essentially a wall hung gas boiler that provides efficient gas central heating and hot water like any other boiler and also generates electricity for use in the home – a Dual Energy System.

What is micro-combined heat and power (micro-CHP)?
Micro-CHP is the process of generating both electricity and heat from the same source close to where it is to be used. Baxi Ecogen provides highly efficient heating and hot water for the home and also generates low cost, low carbon electricity in the process. Using this electricity to power household appliances means that you need to buy les electricity from your energy provider, so you can look forward to lower electricity bills and a smaller carbon footprint.

CHP has been around for some time for large scale projects like hospitals, apartment blocks and schools. Baxi has taken this technology and developed it to be perfect for use in the home.

How does it work?
Baxi Ecogen looks and acts just like a conventional boiler and the basic principles for heating are the same as a regular boiler. The difference is inside. For electricity generation, the Baxi Ecogen uses a Stirling engine that is heated by burning gas. Helium inside expands and contracts to move a piston up and down between a copper coil, generating up to 1kW of electricity at 50Hz single phase.

So while the boiler is heating your home, it is also generating 1kWh of electricity for you to use.

It comes with a built-in energy meter so you can see how much electricity is being produced. A range of intelligent controls has been designed to set and control room and hot water temperatures and allow you to further reduce your fuel bills and carbon emissions.

How can I use 1kWh of electricity in my home?
Here is an example of how you could use 1kWh:
10 x 20W light bulbs
0.2kWh
Washing machine
0.6kWh
TV
0.1kWh
Computer
0.1kWh
Total
1.0kWh

What are the benefits for Baxi Ecogen?
By generating your electricity at the same time as providing central heating and hot water, you can expect to save up to £600 on your annual fuel bills*. Any electricity you don’t use could be sold back to your energy supplier for an agreed tax-free, inflation linked price.

Electricity suppliers will pay householders a generation tariff of 10p for every kilowatt hour (kWh) of electricity generated and an export tariff of 3p for every kWh of electricity exported back.

The cost of an installed Baxi Ecogen will vary depending on the size and type of property. You can expect to pay more than you would for a regular SEDBUK Band A boiler. However, you can get this money back through savings on your fuel bills.

Because electricity generated close to its point of use is much more energy efficient than that provided by power stations, the environment also benefits from significant reductions in carbon dioxide emissions. A Baxi Ecogen will save around 0.8 of a tonne of carbon dioxide (CO2) over an A rated boiler. And it can save 3.3 tonnes of CO2 over a G rated boiler; that’s the equivalent of CO2 as you would use driving from Lands End to John O’Groats 11 times!
*Based on official PAS67 and APM results April 2010 (compared to a SEDBUK Band G boiler)

For more information please visit http://www.baxiecogen.com/ or call 0800 009 4074 and select Option 1
Frequently asked questions
Why should I invest in a Dual Energy System instead of a conventional boiler?
A conventional boiler will only provide gas central heating and hot water. A Dual Energy System such as Baxi Ecogen, will provide all this plus cheap electricity to power your home. This saves you up to £600 on your electricity bill* and reduces your home’s carbon emissions by up to 40 per cent.

Who can install Baxi Ecogen?
Baxi is working with key partners, including British Gas and Calor, who are fully trained to install Baxi Ecogen.

How does Baxi Ecogen generate electricity?
Baxi Ecogen uses a Stirling engine that is heated by burning gas. Helium inside the engine expands and contracts to move a piston up and down between a copper coil, generating up to 1kW of electricity at 50Hz single phase.

What can I use my electricity for?
You can use the electricity to power most of your home’s energy needs, from your lights and fridge freezer to your phone and TV.

What can I do with any electricity I don’t use?
Any surplus electricity you don’t use can be exported back to your electricity supplier. Electricity suppliers will pay what is called a Feed-in Tariff to householders for every kWh of electricity generated and exported back to the electricity grid. And it’s tax-free and inflation linked.

Where can the Baxi Ecogen be fitted in my home?
The Baxi Ecogen is wall-hung and can be fitted in a range of locations including your kitchen, utility or garage.

Is Baxi Ecogen a good investment?
Baxi Ecogen can save you up to £600* on your energy bills while reducing your home’s carbon emissions by up to 40 per cent.

For more information please visit http://www.baxiecogen.com/ or call 0800 009 4074 and select Option 1

*Based on official PAS67 and APM results April 2010 (compared to a SEDBUK Band G boiler)

1 comment:

  1. The thicker the limescale the higher your boiler will raise the water temperature. You can probably replace this part yourself, apparently it's a common problem with all boilers in a hard water area.

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