Q. At our inn, the boiler won’t last another winter. I want the new boiler to be as efficient as I can afford. What I’d like to know is what to look for and if any rebates are available for oil boilers. Thanks in advance. – GI, Orleans County
Paul:
I assume that you’ve got good reason to think that it’s time to replace your boiler. But, for readers who haven’t had your experience, I’ll state that it makes sense to ask your heating service contractor or HVAC contractor to confirm that replacement will be cost effective.
Dan:
To find the right high-efficiency boiler for your needs, the first step is to determine the heating output of your current boiler. If your heating output needs are 300 MBh or fewer, look for an ENERGY STAR® qualified model. That will get you a minimum efficiency of 85% AFUE (annual fuel utilization efficiency). For output of 300 to 500 MBh, look for 87% ET (thermal efficiency). (In case you’re interested, an “MBh” is equal to 1,000 British Thermal Units per hour. A British Thermal Unit is a standard measure of heat.) For readers wondering about efficient furnaces, I’ll mention that recommended efficiencies are different from boilers. You can find that information on the rebate form that Paul is about to discuss.
Paul:
True enough. Rebates are available from Efficiency Vermont, for efficient #2 fuel oil or liquid propane (LP) gas boilers and furnaces as well as for efficient furnace-fan motors (this also applies to natural gas furnaces). Go to the HVAC rebates page to download a new, easy-to-use mail-in rebate form. For readers who buy heating fuel through Vermont Gas Systems, contact VGS about rebate availability.
Dan:
Seeing as you run an inn, I’m guessing that your building uses a fair amount of hot water for laundry, showers, and dishwashing. For some businesses with ongoing hot-water needs (like inns, restaurants, gyms, day care centers, laundries, etc.), it may make financial sense to use a boiler to also heat water. This entails replacing a stand-alone water heater with a similarly-sized water tank, which operates as a new zone off the boiler. The energy-saving benefits of this approach depend on the particular needs of your business, so ask your heating service contractor if this is a good move for you. Also ask about the condition of your current water heater because the most cost-effective time to make this switch is when a water heater needs to be replaced.
Paul:
Efficiency Vermont also offers rebates for a range of other efficient equipment including lighting, ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration, and more. If you have questions, call Efficiency Vermont, toll-free, at 888-921-5990. Thanks for writing in.