Propane: The Versatile and Sustainable Fuel
Benefits of Propane that Might Surprise You
You might not think that a stock market tip might also apply to how you power your home, but it’s true. When it comes to riding out a volatile market, the best advice is to diversify. The idea is that by spreading your investments across different areas, you can better ride out the bumps. The same is true with the energy you use to run your home.
Sure, turning off lights, easing up on the AC, and using less hot water is one approach to control energy costs. But who wants to sit in the dark, feeling less than comfortable. Reevaluating the kind of energy you use—and diversifying rather than going all-electric—can help too. Electric is necessary to run a lot of things—lights, phones, some appliances. But it’s not the smartest choice for all your appliances and systems. Propane is a versatile and efficient choice, and the benefits to your home, comfort—and, yes, your bottom line—might surprise you.
5 Reasons to Love Propane
- It’s clean. 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.
- It’s domestic. 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.
- It’s efficient. 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.)
- It’s versatile. Because propane is so efficient at heating, it’s a smarter choice than electricity for a wide variety of appliances. 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:
- clothes washers and dryers
- dishwashers
- outdoor lighting
- patio heaters
- pool and spa-tub heaters
- outdoor grills
- stoves and cooktops
- It’s always available. That’s because your propane supply is delivered and stored in a tank on your property, so you’ll always have it right on-hand. No pipeline problems caused by cold weather, accidents, or deterioration. And consider this: When storms knock out power, a propane-fueled backup generator will keep your lights and everything else running until the utility companies can make repairs. Now that’s peace of mind.
Ready for Propane?
As you can see, propane delivers higher energy value, with lower environmental impact. It’s a win-win for homeowners who care about the environment, but also want to keep costs under control.
Talk to the team at Pico North Carolina. We have the knowledge and the experience to answer all your questions about the benefits of a propane for your home. Contact us today to learn more.
