Many people prefer a newly built house when it comes to renting a home. However, due to the lack of gas connection, many people back away from this decision. Because, people think that there are many problems with using LPG ( liquefied petroleum gas) cylinders. Besides, there are cost and availability issues. But buildings built following the new National Building Construction Rules of Bangladesh don’t have natural gas connection. So there is no other option but to use LPG cylinders. There are advantages and disadvantages to everything. Using LPG cylinders is no exception. Before learning about the positives and negatives of Using LPG, it is important to understand what LPG is.
What is LPG
Liquid Petroleum Gas better known by the name LPG is actually a liquefied form of petroleum gas. LPG is also called clean or green fuel because it burns more cleanly than petrol and fuel-oil. Produced in a combination of propane and butane, this gas is used worldwide as an alternative to gasoline and octane, which is more efficient and safer to cook with as well as using as vehicle fuel. Now let’s take a look at the positives and negatives of using LPG.
Positives
Easy Connection- First of all, it takes longer to get a gas connection. And if it is a newly built building, then there is no question of even getting one for now. But it is much easier to have an LPG cylinder. You just have to call the LPG gas cylinder supplier in the area, and they will deliver the cylinder to your house in no time and carefully install the cylinder with the stove in the kitchen. And when the gas runs out you just need to make a call and they will replace the empty cylinder with a new one.
Pressure Level- The biggest advantage of using LPG over natural gas is that it has a higher pressure level. This is a huge issue with natural gas. Sometimes there is not enough pressure and sometimes not at all. As a result, it becomes difficult to cook. Also, with natural gas, there is no guarantee of having a consistent pressure level all times. In addition, with a lower heat pressure, you waste a lot of time in cooking. On the other hand, due to the compression the pressure in LPG cylinders remains consistent and provides smoother flow.
Easy Access: The ease of access is one of the biggest benefits of LPG cylinders. There are multiple suppliers of LPG services all around the country. Unlike natural gas sources, anyone can get LPG connection without any hassle. This ease of availability is another reason that many people now are leaning towards LPG cylinders.
Easy to Carry: LPG cylinders are portable so carrying them isn’t a big issue. LPG cylinders are available in different shapes and sizes in the market ranging from 5.5kgs to 45 kgs. Also, the task of carrying the cylinder to your home is done by the supplier himself. So there is no need to worry about carrying the cylinder.
Eco-friendliness: LPG creates the least greenhouse gas emission of all the available fossil fuels. Cooking with LPG can help reduce the greenhouse gas emission by up to 70%. This makes LPG a more environmentally friendly option than other sources of energy. Although all energy sources release carbon dioxide, compared to oil, LPG only releases 41% of carbon dioxide and compared to coal, LPG only releases 70% of the carbon dioxide.
Negatives
Might cause accidents if not kept in a safe place- There are many positives and negatives of using LPG cylinders. One of the major negative aspects is, LPG cylinders can explode if not maintained properly. But, the cylinder never explodes without any reason. Blasts are more likely to occur if exposed to extreme heat or fire. Or if there is a fault in the ring or regulator or any kind of leak in the cylinder.
Unavailability in rural areas– LP gas is not that available in remote areas. Due to the scarcity of natural gas, many people use clay or oil stoves. Also, many people avoid using LP gas as the price of cylinder gas has gotten expensive over the years.
Comparatively pricey – LPG prices have gone up many times this year. Prices were lower in June compared to May, but went up in July. In July, the highest price for a 12 kg cylinder was BDT 691; Which was BDT 742 in June and BDT 908 in May. And it is estimated that in August the price of 12 kg gas will be BDT 993 per cylinder. Whereas, natural gas bills always stay at a fixed rate.
With the recent crisis of natural gas, LP gas is a great option for people who can’t get access to any other form of gas sources. So before switching to LP gas, considering these advantages and disadvantages of it will help you make a better choice.
