Why Is LPG energy great for rural households?

More trees, less traffic, cleaner air; plenty of fields, forests and rivers; less stress and no “rat race” or peak hour traffic ... these are just some of the many benefits of living in rural areas. Almost 15% of Australia’s population (more than 3.5 million people) have decided to call rural Australia home.

Aussies are drawn to the land for the affordability of housing, the laid-back lifestyle and the strong sense of community that only small towns can offer. It’s becoming increasingly popular with older generations who are looking for peace and quiet in retirement, and young families who are looking to raise children away from the pressures and stress of major urban centres.

The challenge of rural living

Although there are many benefits to living off the grid, it also presents its challenges — in particular, when it comes to energy resources. Rising costs, along with the unreliability and inaccessibility of mains power are all creating stress for those seeking the quieter lifestyle. Being so far away from cities means they don’t have the same access to electricity and gas power that urban residents enjoy. It’s expensive installing and maintaining electrical cables and gas lines, and unfortunately, it’s those people living in rural areas who usually miss out. Not because they don’t matter — but more so because they are too few and far between.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Leah-Anne Thompson

This lack of energy can impact both home life and business life. As such, it is driving property owners and businesses in rural areas to seek alternative energy. While solar and wind power are undoubtedly popular with rural property owners, they are also reliant on the weather to generate electricity — and often, this is not reliable and can lead to fluctuations in power supply. Not only that, but the grids and panels that capture and distribute this energy are expensive.

So, what’s the solution?

One of the most effective solutions to the problem comes in the form of LPG. Liquified petroleum gas (propane) stored in a gas bottle, when connected to your home, is released as a vapour through your mains (gas pipes). It can be used to not only help you cook food; heat water throughout the home and keep you warm, but it can also be used to power fridges, freezes and clothes dryers.

Advantages of LPG

There are many advantages of signing up for LPG at your rural property.

• It is a more environmentally friendly option than coal generated electricity.
• It is non-toxic and won’t impact on soil or water quality, or underground aquifers.
• LPG in gas bottles has an indefinite shelf life and isn’t impacted by weather conditions.
• LPG is easily transported, and has an excellent storage and distribution infrastructure in Australia.
• When used correctly, it is much more efficient than many other energy sources.
• LPG can provide instantaneous heating options for cooking, hot water and home heating, for optimal energy efficiency of home appliances.
• LPG can also be used to power standalone generators, fridges, freezes and dryers.

How to arrange LPG for your rural property

LPG comes in gas bottles for the home and you can get these in various sizes to suit your property requirements. From the smaller SWAP'n'GO barbecue gas bottles, which are usually 4 kg and 9 kg in size, to 45 kg or 90 kg gas bottles typically used for most homes.

Larger 210 kg cylinders or smaller tanks ranging from 0.5 tonnes to 7.5 k tonnes can also be used depending on your energy needs for your property or business.

If you want to find out more or to arrange LPG at your rural home or business, get in touch with Elgas. Elgas has been providing LPG gas to homes across Australia since 1984. They are one of the largest marketers of LPG in Australia and with more than 40 service centres around the country, providing LPG to rural residents and businesses is easy.

Top image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Leah-Anne Thompson