Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)

Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) is the closest alternative to mains gas and is used for central heating, water heating and cooking. It can be stored in cylinders, in a tank (above or below ground) and is delivered to a property via a pipeline.

Installations costs/payback

Installation and set-up is relatively low averaging around £4,000 for a complete installation**.
The typical cost of an LPG boiler is £1,150* and installation of an above ground tank is £150 (excluding civil costs).
LPG is the ideal back up fuel to renewable heating technology such as solar thermal. To install a solar system you would be looking at around an additional £2,000**.

Running costs

Calor LPG prices tend to be fairly stable with prices usually fixed for at least 6 months, so you’re less likely to experience unexpected hikes in your fuel bills.
Average running costs would be around £950 per annum**.

Carbon emissions / the environment

LPG has the lowest carbon emissions out of all the fossil fuels available in rural areas, and emits 19 percent less CO₂ per kWh than heating oil, 30 percent less than coal and more than 50 percent less than electricity.***
LPG does not pose any ground or water pollution hazards. It burns cleanly with no soot and very few sulphur emissions, producing just carbon dioxide and water.

Legislation

LPG is compatible with renewable and low-carbon technologies. It is the ideal back-up fuel for solar thermal water heating in off mains gas areas, therefore satisfying planning permission requirements.
High efficiency LPG condensing boilers, to meet Building Regulations, are available from leading manufacturers.

Features and benefits

It’s convenient and versatile - it can fuel central heating, water heating, fires and cookers with a real and controllable flame for gas hobs, ovens and fires.
Storage options for Calor LPG are very flexible and include underground tank storage so that only the tank’s lid is visible. It is perfectly safe to store LPG underground, as in the unlikely event of a leak the fuel would vaporise – so it wouldn’t contaminate any soil or fresh water that might be nearby.
Calor offers automatic fuel top-ups, so the property owner should never be without fuel.
LPG tanks are secure; the fuel cannot be siphoned out.
LPG installers must be CORGI registered, which protects property owners.
The storage tank remains the property and responsibility of Calor, so there’s no need to worry about insurance or maintenance.
There is a wide choice of appliances available from leading manufacturers.

Potential drawbacks

The running costs of LPG are higher than mains gas and like other fuels the cost of LPG follows the cost of oil.
Historically, oil heating systems have been cheaper to run than LPG, but this is no longer the case.

Sources