Sorry about the length of this article, but there's quite a few interesting points here. Particularly the part where a plumbing firms says "that the greenhouse gas emissions from its vans were probably greater than the savings made by the shift to eco-conscious boilers".
And the last paragraph stating from next year we'll all have to keep a log book for our boilers.
The new boiler that's causing a heated row
From yesterday, new rules mean that if your old gas boiler needs replacing you must install the modern condenser style. The government insists the move is environmentally-friendly, but some homeowners are unhappy with this. Phillip Inman reports
Saturday April 2, 2005 The Guardian
It's the government's latest plan to save the environment. From this weekend, every household in the country will have to switch over to a new-style "condensing" gas boiler when the old one needs replacing. The move is part of an environmental masterplan developed by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM), which has rewritten the building regulations to force all homes to become more energy efficient. Condensing boilers are much more energy efficient than older traditional models, says deputy prime minister John Prescott, and will cut greenhouse gas emissions dramatically. It will all help to meet our Kyoto targets and ease global warming. He points out that more than 80% of boilers in Holland and 50% in Germany are this condensing type.
Article continues