It is reported it would take 35 years to recoup the cost of installing a condensing boiler - but as I understand as little as 10 years these boilers need repalcing - as compared to a life of 25-30 years for boilers made 25 years ago.

As for loft insulation is you go from having 25 mm of insulation (the 1970's norm) to 200 mm (less than the new standard I know) you can do it for less than £100 by taking advantage of 'buy one-get one free' offers. And yes it's the 'itchy-scratchy' stuff - so wear the long sleeves, gloves and goggles. By my calculations - and borne out by the gas bills I saved £40 in the first year - so pay back 3 years. The improvement in energy saving by going to 300 mm of insulation is by comparison quite small and would take a long time to re-coup the additional cost.

The moral should be 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it' but when it needs replacing go for the most cost-effective/energy efficient replacements.

dave, Kent, UK

Looks like the RICS has finally made a stand for common sense. If there is any need for these measure, and the truly scientific data on this is still, at best, questionable, and if our government genuinely want change, then why shouldn't we see the removal of VAT, tax refunds on money spent on these measure plus grants. It's about time the Ecological movement got down off their soapbox and tried coming up with practical ways to fund their measures. Of course it's easy to criticise when most of the members and spokepeople have never owned their own home, run a business or had to be fiscally accountable in any way, shape or form.

If I were looking at these options, I would be looking for hard, verfiiable figures giving me return on investment numbers, with no serious, credible scientific arguments in place this should be the only basis anyone should reasonably consider investing in these dubious 'improvements'. If the numbers don;t add up, forget about it!

D Allcock, Preston,

The figures in the graphic are in cloud cuckoo land.
£761 to lag the tank? £755 for loft insulation?? £2,240 for thermostatic radiator valves? And the very, very minimum saving on solar thermal is £75 per annum. All of the costs are between 5-8x exaggerated over real world prices. I'd be interest in seeing the actual report too.

Jonathan Harris, Reading, Berkshire

These findings would be obvious to anyone who has researched home energy savings. My conclusions were that most so called green alternative methods are major net contributors to carbon levels as the energy used in their production, installation and maintainence is far greater than the energy saved over the expected lifetime. Fiddling with the tax treatment and providing incentives does nothing to alter the energy equation.

JR, Shefford,

anyone got a url for the survey?

Roy Davidson, Stornoway, UK

As an RICS member I am very disappointed by the stance of this report. Firstly, it ignores the fact that in many cases making improvements will enhance the value of the property, and, secondly, there are often non-financial benefits too - for example replacing old single glazed windows with double glazed ones is likely to significantly improve comfort and better heating controls can give you a home that it neither too cold nor too hot.

There are 'improvements' that make no sense at all e.g. small wind turbines on city houses; others need to be considered on their merits. There's little point in replacing a perfectly sound boiler, but if you've been told that yours is on its way out it may make sense to replace it sooner rather than later and start saving money.

Tony Bryer, Twickenham, UK

The article is factual correct, but sends the wrong message.

The homes were are building are the same as they were in 1950 with a little extra insulation. And they are bigger.

yes install solar panels in the rainy cloudy countries is seemingly pointless.

in sunny parts of the world, running solar panels to offset your costs on electricity is a smart thing to do. solar water is more expensive yes, but still cuts costs. Both reduces the drain on fuel.

Wind would be a good source for power in Great Britian. Geothermal may be a source source of cheaper heat too.

alex, NJ, USA

And if taken into account the amount of energy consumed
to manufacture transport and install thses products
+ the energy used ot despose of the same at the end of there
usefull life the benefit to the enviorment if any is doubtfull.

peter, Halifax, UK

Is there a url for the report?

Roy, stornoway, uk