There’s so much to consider when building or buying a new home. Some things are subjective and personal, such as architectural style, but others are more practical—and can affect your bottom line as well as your day-to-day comfort. Choosing appliances is one of those. Of course, appearance and features are part of the decision, but so is efficiency—and that means making a choice between electric and propane appliances.
People are often surprised at the benefits that propane offers. In fact, propane is one of the cleanest, most versatile and efficient fuels around. Propane offers exceptional performance and efficiency in a wide range of home appliances at a much lower cost than electricity.
If you’ve never lived in a propane-fueled home before, you might be surprised to know all the benefits.
Propane generates more Btus than an equivalent amount of electricity, so you need much less propane to produce the same amount of heat or energy. Also, propane appliances are very efficient, so they waste very little fuel in the combustion process. On the other hand, generation of electricity is the second-largest creator of greenhouse gases in the United States. That’s because most of our electricity supply is generated by coal-fired power plants. (Only the transportation sector creates more greenhouse gases.)
Because propane is so efficient, it’s a smarter choice than electricity for a wide variety of appliances, in addition to heating your home. For example, propane water heaters generate much more hot water at a cheaper cost per gallon. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, homes that heat water with propane rather than electricity can see average annual savings of $174.
The same technology that makes propane ideal for water heaters makes it a smarter choice than electricity to power all kinds of appliances that use hot water or heat:
A propane fireplace brings all the ambiance and warmth of a wood-burning fireplace to any room, without the mess, smoke and ash. And unlike a traditional fireplace, you can install a propane-fueled fireplace just about anywhere: living room, dining room, bedroom, even the kitchen. Imagine the luxe, spa-like glamour of a fireplace in your master bath! Propane space heaters (vented and unvented) are a great option to make it easy to safely and cost-effectively get more use out of any chilly space or room in your home.
If you love to cook, you will really love cooking on a gas range. There’s a reason it’s the only choice for professional chefs. Just take a peek in the kitchen of your favorite restaurant. An electric range will never provide the same control as cooking with gas. Think about why you opt for a propane grill instead of charcoal: you can adjust the flame with the turn of a knob. An electric burner can’t respond as quickly, taking more time to reduce or increase the heat.
Propane is very safe, thanks to strong government regulation and high industry standards. In fact, recent stories about gas stoves and indoor air quality are a bit misleading: While natural gas stoves can potentially emit methane, a potent greenhouse gas, propane contains no methane. And, cooking of any kind creates particulate matter and affects indoor air quality, no matter what fuel is used. While it’s a highly flammable gas under certain conditions, leaks are rare and propane is a safe and clean-burning way to heat your home and water, and run many of your appliances.
When it comes to environmental impact, propane gas is one of the cleanest and efficient fuels around. It burns cleanly and produces minimal emissions. Another important factor when it comes to evaluating whether a fuel is “green”: Propane also doesn’t harm soil or groundwater.
Did you know propane is also an American energy source? About 90% of the United States’ supply of propane is domestically generated. Most of it comes from the processing of natural gas—which is considered a greenhouse gas when burned. Propane is not considered a greenhouse gas.
In a nutshell, propane appliances deliver more power for your energy dollar, all while protecting the environment. It’s a win-win for homebuyers—and builders—who care about the environment, but also want to keep costs under control.
Whether you’re ready to make the switch, or have more questions, the professionals at Pico Propane have the knowledge, experience and resources to answer all your questions about the benefits of propane for your home. And, you can count on us for reliable propane delivery and more. Contact us for more information today.
