i have a friend that has steam heat in his house and wants to upgrade his boiler. is steam heat efficient form of heat? would it be easier to go to forced air or baseboard hat water? are there other options out in the heating industry?
Tell your friend to stick with steam. Any conversion, weather it be forced water or the "dreaded" scorched air will only result in marginal efficiency increases and will never realize a payback within their lifetime. Steam heat comfort, just doesn't get any better!
Why not upgrade to a nice higher efficiency steamer and enjoy the comfort.
Stay with steam
I say "stay with steam" . If you have a professional evaluate your existing system you will probably end up with one of the most comfortable systems available and close to if not more efficient then most other systems.
Robert and JK nailed it
the only thing I would add is that a steam system won't freeze up in an extended power failure the way a hot-water system can.
Is this a one-pipe system, or is it Vapor or some other variety of steam?