Is bottled LPG bad?

Is bottled LPG bad?



LPG cylinders are an alternative to mains supplied natural gas. They are often used in Australian homes for cooking when a mains option is not available.
 
In this article, we discuss the use of LPG in the home. We cover:
  1. What is LPG?
  2. What are the impacts of LPG on climate change?
  3. Are there health concerns with using LPG?
  4. How does LPG compare to natural gas?

What is LPG?

LPG, or liquefied petroleum gas, is either butane, propane or a combination. In Australia it is propane1. It is a highly flammable odourless gas. When sold in Australia, an odorant is added to assist with identifying gas leaks.
 
LPG-propane is a fossil fuel. It is a by-product of natural gas processing and crude oil refining2.


Source6
 
When crude oil is extracted from the ground it is pumped to a distillation tower.
 
In the distillation tower, the crude oil separates and different fuel sources are extracted at different temperatures.
 
For example, LPG-propane is extracted from the cooler end of the distillation tower, labelled "butane and lighter products" in the diagram above.
Renewable propane can be produced from biomass based feed stocks including used cooking oil and animal fats. It is chemically identical to conventional propane but does not require the extraction of natural gas or crude oil2. There is no evidence of renewable propane being produced in Australia.
 
For LPG to reach your home, it needs to be liquefied through pressurisation. The liquid form is stored in cylinders that attach to pipes that supply your home.

LPG and climate change

Propane is a fossil fuel but it has very low carbon emissions3.
 
Currently in Australia, propane can only come from the extraction of natural gas. Propane accounts for 10% of natural gas3.

Natural gas is a combination of different gases, including methane. Methane is 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide in terms of warming the climate system4.

Natural gas extraction and consumption is a major contributor to climate change.

What does this mean?  While using propane at home will not result in carbon emissions because it is only a small proportion of natural gas, the associated carbon emissions are very high.
If you want to know more about gas, check out our article, 'Is gas bad?'

Are there health concerns with using LPG?

Inhalation of LPG even in low doses can be damaging to people's health. Exposure to LPG is generally through inhalation or by skin and eye contact.
 
LPG is classified as an asphyxiant gas5. This means it can cause unconsciousness and/or death when breathed in but this would have to happen in high doses that are unlikely to occur in a home environment unless there is a significant gas leak.

Low level inhalation may cause drowsiness or dizziness and respiratory irritation (coughing, sneezing, headaches, nose and throat pain).
Low level inhalation is particularly important in homes because LPG is heavier than air and therefore will sink to the ground. This means it is harder to ventilate in homes and will pool at the level of children and animals.

How does LPG compare to natural gas?

In comparing LPG and natural gas we will look at:
  1. Environment
  2. Health
  3. Efficiency
  4. Cost

Environment

The use of LPG in the home is better than natural gas because there are very low climate-harming emissions.
 
However, because LPG is made of propane, which comes from crude oil, there are high incidental carbon emissions during the production of LPG. 

Health

All gas cooktops leak, even when switched off8.
 
There can be an undetected gas leak for both LPG and natural gas.
 
The health threats of LPG and natural gas are equally of concern. However, because LPG is heavier than air while natural gas is lighter, it can be harder to ventilate LPG from your home, making it more dangerous.

Efficiency

LPG-propane has a higher energy content than natural gas7.
 
Gas cooktops often come with two jets, one for LPG and one for main supplied gas. The LPG jets are smaller, to account for the higher energy content.

Cost

To get natural gas in your home it must be connected to a mains supply. Gas companies charge monthly connection fees.
 
LPG comes in cylinders that you can rent. Cylinder rental is often cheaper than the connection fees for a mains natural gas supply.
 
However, this will depend on usage as LPG is a more expensive gas by volume.

Next steps

Concerned by what you read about LPG and want to know what your alternatives are?
 
Have a read of our article, 'What is an energy freedom home?' to understand how you can mitigate your impact on climate, and protect your family's health.
 
Ready to get off gas? Join an Energy Freedom Homes Electrification Masterclass and learn to identify your needs, gain expert installation advice, and meet trustworthy tradespeople. Check your Masterclass readiness now!

References

1 Elgas. (2022). LPG gas manufacturing process: Where do we get LPG gas from - how is LPG gas made. Retrieved  2023, from  https://www.elgas.com.au/blog/1682-where-does-lpg-come-from-lpg-production-process/
2 Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy. (2021). Propane basics. U.S. Department of Energy. Retrieved  2023, from  https://afdc.energy.gov/files/u/publication/propane_basics.pdf
3 Wu, M., Li, J., Stark, T., Yuan, Z., Guo, J., Leu, A., Tyson, G., McIlroy, S., & Erler, D. (2022). Taking a bite out of climate change - propane eating microbe discovered. Retrieved  2023, from  https://acweb.uq.edu.au/article/2022/11/taking-bite-out-climate-change-%E2%80%93-propane-eating-microbe-discovered
4 Garthwaite, J. (2021). Methane and climate change. Stanford Earth Matters magazine. Retrieved  2021, from  https://earth.stanford.edu/news/methane-and-climate-change
5  Chemscape: Safety technologies. (2023). Occupational health hazards of liquified petroleum gas. Retrieved  2023, from  https://www.chemscape.com/resources/chemical-management/health-hazards/liquified-petroleum-gas
6 U.S. Energy Information Administration. (2022). Refining crude oil. Retrieved  2023, from  https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/oil-and-petroleum-products/refining-crude-oil-the-refining-process.php
7 Elgas. (2022). LPG vs natural gas: Difference between LPG and natural gas - Is LPG natural gas.
8 Lebel, E. D., Finnegan, C. J., Ouyang, Z., & Jackson, R. B. (2022). Methane and NOx emissions from natural gas stoves, cooktops, and ovens in residential homes. Environmental Science & Technology, 56(4), 2529-2539. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.1c04707