Electric CH boilers offer the comfort and convenience of wet central heating and hot water supply wherever there is mains electricity. They provide near silent operation and do not require a flue. Depending on specific circumstances an electric boiler can result in lower lifetime costs as the lower capital, installation, maintenance and inspection costs and longer useful life compared to oil or gas boilers can more than offset higher energy consumption costs. The economics are generally more favourable in low energy usage properties (such as flats) rather than larger properties where energy consumption is higher.
'Green electricity' can be purchasd from some electricity suppliers which uses the earth's natural energy sources (such as wind power, tidal power, hydro power etc) rather than burning fossil fuels. Off-peak electricity tariffs can provide lower cost electricity, the two most common being Economy 7 and Economy 10. However whilst lower tariff electricity allows stored hot water to be heated overnight, electricity for heating radiators is typically consumed in the daytime or evening and is likely to be charged at the standard tariff (generally significantly more than the equivalent cost of gas or oil). You should contact your electricity supplier for details of off-peak tariffs and your local electricity distribution company regarding meters.
For historical reasons boiler heating powers are often expressed in the British Imperial units BTU/hr rather than the kW equivalent. To convert from kW to BTU/hr multiply by 3412 e.g. 1 kW = 3412 BTU/hr. Similarly to convert from BTU/hr to kW divide by 3412
