It goes without saying that the current cost of living crisis and high energy costs are hitting all of us whether in business, domestic use or both. But, some businesses are feeling the strain more than ever and need to reduce overheads and make sure they’re running as efficiently as possible whilst minimising their impact on the environment.
For rural residential or day care providers, whether on mains gas or off-grid, one area they can’t cut back on is having a constant supply of heating and hot water which is essential 24 hours a day, as many residents are vulnerable and at a higher risk of hypothermia during cold weather. This leads to significant expenditure, especially in the current times. Quite simply, going without heating and hot water, or turning the thermostat down to save on energy costs is simply not an option for care homes as it would endanger the lives of many of the older or vulnerable people who live there, and particularly those living with illnesses. Keeping these people safe, warm, well-fed and stress-free requires the constant 24/7 use of effective central heating. In this blog, we’re taking a look at why LPG, otherwise known as liquid petroleum gas, is an ideal, reliable, efficient, versatile and affordable energy solution for off-grid care homes or those where a connection to the mains gas supply may not be feasible.
Stress free reliability:
The last thing any care home owner needs is the worry of an unreliable heating system that conks out in the depths of winter, or cuts out due to a power outage. Rural care homes are highly dependent on the reliability and availability of their fuel supply. Without a doubt, any supply issues can have a real impact on the well-being of residents, which is why fuel reliability and an uninterrupted supply is so important and a top priority in residential care.
With commercial LPG heating, which is the next best thing to mains gas, you can relax and enjoy hassle-free instant heat and hot water all year round. Providing the same reliable and convenient benefits as mains gas, you won’t have to worry about power cuts! Bulk LPG provides a consistent and controllable heat source and ensures that ambient temperatures are quickly achieved and maintained.
Coming with a choice of above ground or underground LPG bulk tanks if you’re short of space, and in a range of sizes, making it easy to choose the best storage solution for your business, your tank can be fitted with a telemetry system that monitors your commercial gas levels in real time and automatically alerts your bulk LPG supplier when the tank is running low so a delivery can be scheduled. The worry about running low or even worse, running out, is taken away. Plus industrial LPG is completely safe when stored and used correctly and is virtually impossible to steal as it evaporates upon contact with air. So you’ll be safe in the knowledge that you’ve always got the gas you need without any of the worry!
Cooking up a storm:
Ensuring residents are well-fed with a nutritious and well balanced diet is a crucial part of providing support in residential care. As it has a high calorific value, commercial propane gas can power everything from your heating to your hob, so is the perfect choice for cooking – its cost-effective, versatile and reliable. Providing instant heat which is easily regulated so your chefs can get creative and cook up enticing and varied meals even when there’s a power cut, it’s also clean burning so your stoves will require less maintenance than those running on other energy sources. A double whammy!
Affordable:
Compared to alternative energy sources, LPG is economically highly efficient, producing a good return on every unit of energy. So not only do you get a consistent and reliable energy supply, it also burns hotter than most commonly-used fuels and requires less gas to produce the same level of heat so it affords greater cost efficiency. LPG boilers, cheaper to buy than oil boilers, are more efficient than others running on alternative fuels, and can achieve efficiencies of 90% or more - all the more important when budgets are squeezed and the cost of providing quality healthcare is going up.
The greener option:
Environmental issues have never been more important, and for residential homes keen to reduce their carbon footprint, LPG is the ideal green option as it is for any business considering the environmental impact their energy usage is having but still wanting to have all the benefits of gas on site. As the cleanest burning fossil fuel, LPG is collected as a bi-product of the crude oil refinery process and emits 20% less CO2 per Kilowatt hour than heating oil. It provides healthier air quality as it doesn’t contain sulphur, and so emits virtually no black carbon (thought to be one of the biggest contributors to global warming) and low particle and NOx (nitrogen oxide) emissions. And the future is looking bright with greener options on their way – BioLPG and rDME (renewable dimethyl ether) are coming soon, both of which are drop-in renewable solutions which require no additional refit or new equipment costs. Find out more about our renewable gases here.
As George Webb, Chief Executive of Liquid Gas UK (The Trade Association for BioLPG and LPG in the UK) said ‘From a business perspective LPG provides fast, immediate and reliable heat’. Which is why it’s such a popular choice for off-grid businesses throughout the UK. If your residential or day care home is currently running on an alternative source of fuel and you would like to find out more about switching to LPG with Northern Energy, click here or call us today on 01423 772 789. As an independent supplier with specialist knowledge, we have the scale and flexibility to supply businesses large and small.
Or, if you already use LPG and are interested in switching supplier, we’ll take care of everything with the very minimum level of disruption! We understand it’s vital to have a fuel supplier you can trust, and with Northern Energy you can look forward to not only the highest level of service at all times, but also a reliable and consistent supply. Get in touch today on 01423 772 789 and our highly experienced team will do the rest.