Reducing energy costs remains a concern for many businesses, so it pays to step back and take care when specifying a new heating system – especially if the premises are not on the mains gas grid.
Choosing the right boiler for your business is a key part of this decision, as this investment can affect your bottom line costs for the next 15 to 20 years.
Calor’s research confirms that the vast majority of new heating installations are replacement systems in existing buildings. Although many consultants will invariably consider renewables as an option, most renewable technologies are often too expensive or not viable as a standalone solution for existing buildings. Therefore oil, more often than not, remains the default replacement system. As a result, there is limited awareness of the opportunities available from a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) installation.
Lower Price Guarantee*
To rectify the prevalent misconception that oil is typically cheaper than LPG, Calor has introduced a ‘Lower Price Guarantee*. This simply guarantees that Calor LPG will be cheaper than an end-user business’s current oil price on a pence per kWh basis – The guarantee applies to registered businesses only, see www.calor.co.uk/specifiers for details.
While the Lower Price Guarantee* offers a tangible reason to make the switch from oil, price is not the only benefit on offer when choosing LPG.
LPG – the natural choice for off-grid energy
For businesses on-grid, natural gas is the obvious choice because it is clean burning, relatively cheap and low in CO2. Step off-grid and LPG fulfils the same criteria.
As well as offering more fixed and stable pricing, LPG has the lowest carbon emissions out of all the fossil fuels available to those off the mains gas grid, emitting 11.7 per cent less CO2 per kWh than heating oil.
In addition, global reserves of LPG are plentiful, with predictions that supply will eventually exceed demand – boding well for restrained pricing during the decades to come.
With the government’s continued focus on reducing the UK’s carbon footprint, there will be penalties on those businesses that fail to take action. Calor believes that LPG will tick more and more boxes when it comes to the environment, including no pollution threat to soil or the water table when associated with leaks and spillages.
Renewable options
Using renewable technology as part of the energy mix demonstrates a business’s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint.
It is unlikely, however, that a 100 per cent renewable energy solution will be viable for many installations. Therefore it makes sense to seek a low carbon, reliable fossil fuel such as LPG to compliment a renewable energy solution.
Fuel theft and spillages
When using oil, another risk to consider is theft. Not only does this leave the business without fuel for heating, there is also the cost of replacing the lost oil, as well as the clean up costs for any spillages.
The UK Environment Agency claims that on average an oil spill costs a typical business around £30,000 in fines, clean up charges and losses. There have been incidents where fines have exceeded a million pounds, which serves to highlight the serious nature with which an oil spill may be dealt with by the relevant authorities.
In contrast it is virtually unheard of and technically very difficult to steal LPG from a tank. In addition, the fuel cannot pollute soil, air or water. It cannot mix with water and is heavier than air, so even if there is a leak it will sink to the ground or rest on top of water until it evaporates.
Put some Calor in your life
Visit www.calor.co.uk/specifiers to request an introduction and learn more about Calor’s Lower Price Guarantee* and the many benefits of LPG via the company’s useful specifiers’ reference guide. Alternatively, you can call 0800 022 4198 quoting LPG-Awareness.
* Lower Price Guarantee – terms and conditions
This guarantee applies only to companies entering into an LPG supply agreement with Calor at their registered business premises. Offer correct at time of going to print. Terms and conditions apply: visit www.calor.co.uk for full details. Calor Gas Limited (registered no. 00303703) Athena House, Athena Drive, Tachbrook Park, Warwick CV34 6RL
