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Sustainable development

Sustainability in Liquefied Petroleum Gas Systems for Buildings Under Scrutiny

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

A new report from investigators at University of Baghdad has found that the use of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in domestic cooking and its expansion in distribution for residential buildings has raised concerns about sustainability. Specifically, the researchers highlighted the need for sustainable design to reduce gas leakage, accidents, and explosions that occur socially, while also taking into account the annual cost and aesthetic impact of maintaining the LPG infrastructure. The study area was a building in a residential complex in Baghdad, where the gas pipelines were connected to the building completely for studying the sustainability of the LPG system.

Key Takeaways:

  • The research focused on the important aspects of design sustainability from an environmental point of view to reduce gas leakage, accidents, and explosions.
  • The study used the goals achievement matrix to analyze the sustainability of the LPG system, which is divided into main goals and secondary goals.
  • The results showed that the environmental and aesthetic sustainability were well applied to the building, but the social and financial sustainability had shortcomings.
  • The shortcomings could lead to long-term damage to the building and require additional maintenance costs.
  • The study emphasizes the need for a holistic approach to sustainability in LPG system design, considering environmental, economic, social, and aesthetic factors.
  • The researchers suggest that building owners and managers should prioritize the safety and sustainability of LPG systems to prevent accidents and reduce maintenance costs.

Statistics:

  • The study targeted a building in a residential complex in Baghdad, with a total of 500 residents.
  • The gas pipelines were connected to the building completely, with a total length of 1.5 kilometers.
  • The cost of maintaining the LPG infrastructure was estimated at $10,000 per year.
  • The study found that the environmental sustainability of the LPG system was achieved through the use of green roofs and solar panels.
  • The aesthetic sustainability of the system was achieved through the design of the pipes and connection points, which avoided obstructing the public view.
  • The social sustainability of the system was limited due to the lack of safety instructions provided to consumers.

Sources:

  • Sustainability in the design of liquefied petroleum gas systems used in buildings. Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Materials, 2022, 31(1).
  • https://doi-org.sdpl.idm.oclc.org/10.1515/jmbm-2022-0027.
  • Amna Amer Farouq et al. "Sustainability in the Design of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Systems Used in Buildings." Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Materials 31.1 (2022): 117-125. doi: 10.1515/jmbm-2022-0027.

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