Off-Grid Heating Options & Solutions
Off-grid energy that’s right for you
If you live off the gas grid, you will be happy to know that there are still off-grid options available to power your house in an environmentally conscious manner, keeping your rooms healthy and warm 365 days a year.
Currently, home heating is responsible for 14% of the UK’s carbon emissions, so in an effort to tackle pollution levels across the country, it’s no surprise that householders are being encouraged to find alternative, more sustainable solutions to generate heat and hot water for their everyday needs.
At Flogas, we are proud to support you on your journey to reducing your carbon footprint. LPG is the lowest carbon traditional fuel on the market for off-grid homes, featuring cleaner burning properties than oil and releasing fewer pollutants into the atmosphere.
LPG for your off-grid heat
LPG is a safe, reliable fuel option to run your off-grid central heating. One of the benefits of LPG is that it produces instant heat, meaning it provides you with a toasty environment in no time.
As opposed to other conventional off-grid fuels, LPG doesn’t spill, leak, or leave residue, allowing you to enjoy a secure space without the risk of slips, injuries, or other unwanted accidents. Not only that, but gas bottles and LPG tanks require less maintenance by the homeowner as your LPG supplier is responsible for regular tank testing, which can hugely reduce downtime and benefit your finances.
As mentioned, it is also the cleanest traditional fuel option on the market. How? Because it releases fewer NOx and SO2 emissions than its oil counterparts and produces almost zero particulate matter.
Another advantage of using LPG for your off-grid central heating is that it’s extremely versatile. No matter what you need it for, whether it’s heating up rooms in the winter, providing hot water, or powering cooking and house appliances, LPG can do it all.
In short, it is a great heating option for houses that are off the grid, as it can suit properties in all sorts of locations.
If you want to know more about how LPG can help you run your off-grid home, feel free to get in touch with us today. At Flogas, we’re always on hand to answer all the questions you may have. And if you’re ready to make the switch, we’ll walk you through all the different options. Together, we will determine the right type of solution for you, whether it’s a domestic LPG tank or gas bottles.
Are off-grid heat pumps right for you?
Off-grid heat pumps are another option to run your home.
In short, they take heat from the air outside, using an evaporator to absorb said heat and then pass it through a compressor to increase its temperature. Essentially, it is the same cycle as in a fridge, but in reverse! After that, heat pumps transfer the heat indoors to power your radiators, UFH, and hot water cylinders, all ready to use for washing and cleaning purposes.
However, if you’re contemplating a heat pump for your off-grid home, there are a few things to keep in mind.
For example, your home must be properly insulated, as heat pumps tend to operate at lower temperatures. This means that if your rooms are particularly draughty, you may have to wait some time for your heat pump to adequately warm up your living areas.
You will also need to have compatible radiators and/or underfloor heating equipment to suit your heat pumps. So, if you’re considering this specific off-grid heating option, you might have to factor in additional time and costs for the right installations.
What’s more, you need to ensure you have enough space. Air source heat pumps have to be fitted outside in an airy spot, as well as in an easy-to-access location for any maintenance and potential repairs. Bear in mind you will need a correctly sized hot water tank inside your home, too.
Other off-grid heating solutions
So, what other off-grid heating options are available to power your house efficiently? Some reliable solutions include:
- Biomass boiler – Biomass boilers burn natural materials such as wood pellets, chips, and logs to generate heat. They are efficient and cheap to run, even though upfront costs can be quite expensive. Generally, they require more space and maintenance than traditional boilers, too.
- Thermal and PV solar panels – Thermal solar panels absorb heat from the sun, using it to heat water for your domestic chores. However, it’s not really an all year round solution. Thermal panels require a form of supplementary heating, whether it’s an LPG boiler or a biomass heat pump, to withstand the colder winter months.
PV solar panels, instead, use the sun’s light to power electrical appliances inside your home and charge batteries. They can also provide supplementary hot water heating by diverting electric to an electric immersion heater. PV panels can also be integrated into a system with a heat pump, which can significantly increase the overall efficiency of your heating.
- Biopropane – Biopropane is a renewable, lower-carbon version of LPG. Because they both share the exact same chemical properties, Biopropane can be used in your existing LPG boilers and equipment. So, you won’t have to worry about new installations, cutting downtime and additional costs while enjoying cleaner fuel for your heating needs.
Read our Case Studies
“There’s a whole host of reasons why we didn’t want oil in this property. The expense, the inconvenience, the lack of security, protecting our wildlife – these all played a big part in our decision.”
Janice Whitelock, Flogas customer