An independent domestic fuel report rates LPG (liquid petroleum gas) as the best fuel to use for your home energy needs.
Below is an extract from the report describing why home LPG is the best alternative fuel:
LPG |
| Installation Costs |
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Very competitive, even for underground installations. |
| Running Costs |
3/5 |
Not as high as some like to believe. Getting cheaper. |
| Environmental Safety |
5/5 |
Not one pollution episode since the 1930s. |
| Usability |
4/5 |
Great for cooking and heating, with appliances on the increase all the time. |
| Overall |
16/20 |
Higher running costs than some, but worth every penny. A very safe fuel that finds uses all over the home. |
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Electricity |
| Installation Costs |
3/5 |
Not bad, no need for flue which helps keep cost low. |
| Running Costs |
2/5 |
Creates the highest bills of the featured fuels - but practically maintenance free. |
| Environmental Safety |
4/5 |
No naked flame or possible spillage - only carbon dioxide emissions a concern. |
| Usability |
4/5 |
Edged out by LPG on quality of cooking, otherwise useful throughout the house. |
| Overall |
13/20 |
A good rural power source, the major drawback being running costs. And keep fingers crossed for no powercuts! |
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Heating Oil |
| Installation Costs |
3/5 |
Suffers slightly in comparison to LPG, specifically for underground tanks. |
| Running Costs |
4/5 |
Historically heating oil's biggest benefit - but current volatile prices may put paid to that. |
| Environmental Safety |
2/5 |
New regulations should help, but levels of pollution still a massive concern. |
| Usability |
3/5 |
Good for heating, but electricity and LPG favourable for cooking. |
| Overall |
12/20 |
Has been very popular due to low running costs,but is let down by its environmental record and cooking ability. |
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Solid Fuel |
| Installation Costs |
3/5 |
New chimney flues can make installation expensive. |
| Running Costs |
3/5 |
Depends on which solid fuel you burn, but generally speaking fairly cheap. |
| Environmental Safety |
3/5 |
Environmental issues over emissions. |
| Usability |
2/5 |
Excellent for open fires, but numerous drawbacks on other appliances - and a lot of hassle! |
| Overall |
11/20 |
Very few cooking appliances available, yet too expensive and time consuming for heating alone. |
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