High-efficiency boilers have been available since the mid-1980s, yet there are still a relatively small proportion of them installed. An increase in this volume could make a major dent in the Government's CO₂ reduction targets. 26% of CO₂ emissions come from the domestic heating sector and high-efficiency boilers could help to save a significant amount compared to their standard efficiency counterparts. For this reason, the Government has taken a radical approach to domestic boiler installations.

According to current Government information, it is likely that installers will probably only be able to fit high-efficiency boilers from April 2005 onwards, effectively making the UK the first exclusively high-efficiency market in Europe. With the market currently running around 30% in the UK, there are some views in the industry about whether the capacity or technology is there to meet the expected demand. However, if the Government is serious about meeting its targets, this is a risk it has to take and installers need to realise that outlawing standard efficiency boilers next year is the only way forward.

In many ways, this strategy shouldn't really come as a shock. Over the last ten years there have been numerous warning signs with various initiatives, grants and schemes set up to promote the take up of high-efficiency boilers. However, the implementation of the current strategy for change as set out in the Energy White Paper is the most drastic and will certainly result in a revolution in the boiler market. Now is the time for manufacturers to dispel the myths that installers associate with high-efficiency boilers, encouraging them to make the switch.

The early high-efficiency boilers were certainly more complex and it is no wonder installers continued to focus their specification on standard efficiency models. However, changes in the technology have meant, in the case of Ideal, there are now far fewer parts and the installation process for high-efficiency boilers is similar to that of their standard efficiency counterparts.

One of the main issues for installers in the past has been the requirement of a condensate drain which some find difficult to locate on a replacement system. Ideal's high-efficiency boilers now have the option of a condensate pump, allowing condensate drains to be installed without a continuous fall. This means that high-efficiency boiler siting is now as simple as standard boilers, and makes life far easier for installers fitting high-efficiency boilers - particularly when the boiler is on the ground floor or in the middle of a block of flats.

A further issue that has hampered the growth of the boilers has simply been a degree of habit among installers. When boilers break down and need to be replaced, installers will tend to fit another standard efficiency boiler. This is particularly true if the homeowner was happy with the original boiler - it's easier to do a straight swap than spend time explaining the merits of different types of boiler. However, this does seem to be gradually changing as more installers are being 'won over' by the benefits of high-efficiency and are encouraging homeowners to trade up.

In fact, the sell to homeowners should be very straightforward. As mentioned previously there are various grants available for both installers and homeowners who fit high-efficiency boilers to help reduce the price differential (although with Ideal's boilers, there is not a significant difference in cost between high and standard efficiency). Furthermore, moving from a standard to a high-efficiency boiler will reduce fuel bills for the homeowner by up to 30%. This will make a huge difference for most people and it means there is really no reason not to make the switch.

As proof of Ideal's commitment to helping to achieve the Government's new targets and encouraging installers to make the switch we are investing in improving high-efficiency technology and launching new boilers to give installers even more choice.

At the end of last year we launched our new and expanded HE range of domestic boilers. Following on from the popular icos and isar boilers, the new range is the fourth generation of high-efficiency boilers from Ideal and the boilers' excellent levels of reliability reflect the intensive development work put into the range. The icos HE heat-only boiler now comes in a choice of four different outputs ranging from 12 to 24kW and the isar combi has three different models with outputs of 24 - 35kW. New to the range is the Istor, which will provide hot water at a staggering 35 litres per minute and combines the boiler and the hot water tank in one box that will fit easily into an airing cupboard or utility room The expansion to the range is designed to ensure there are boilers available with an output suitable for every installation, giving installers the ability to choose the most energy efficient option for any type of property.

We have also made a significant £8 million capital and revenue investment in aluminium casting facilities etc at our factory in Hull, which is the envy of a number of other manufacturers across Europe and has helped to secure our position as the market leader in HE technology. Ideal also recognises how important it is that installers are aware of what is happening and are fully trained on high-efficiency technology. Ideal runs a number of hands-on training courses to highlight the issues and explain the few changes between high and standard efficiency boilers.

By working with manufacturers such as Ideal now, installers can ensure that the transition to a high-efficiency only market will be as pain-free as possible after April 1st 2005. It is essential not to be caught out by the changes and all it will take is just a few simple steps to ensure that the myths that have plagued this sector are dispelled once and for all in time for the looming deadline.