From Guest Blogger Lizzie Weakly: Understanding How Propane can Boost your Home’s Energy Efficiency
Millions of households each year consider the benefits of converting their home to propane. Propane can be used to power nearly everything in a home, including furnaces, heaters and appliances. Understanding how propane can boost your home’s energy efficiency will help guide your decision-making process.
What is propane?
Propane is a form of petroleum gas. The substance is a byproduct of natural gas processing primarily. The gas can also be manufactured through crude oil refinement practices. It is a gas that is stored in liquid form. The colorless gas is odorless and carriers no toxins. The most application for propane is in heating. Space and water heaters commonly rely on propane. Newer propane heaters are up to 99.98 percent energy efficient. It is measured in three units: pounds, cubic feet and gallons. Propane powers vehicles, equipment, appliances, heating units and cooling systems.
Benefits of using propane
According to Wade Sales & Service, propane is a safe, clean, economical energy source. Historically, propane is more economical than gasoline, heating oil and diesel fuel. The versatile energy resource can be used for a range of different applications. It is considered a clean fuel alternative and has been supported by the 1990 Clean Air Act. Lower carbon emissions and fewer pollutants are released when using propane as an energy source. Research shows that propane-based appliances burn much cleaner than the more traditional appliances. Propane furnaces are estimated to burn up to 94 percent efficient. In cooking, propane offers even heat distribution. The widely available resource is produced domestically, making it good for the economy and more affordable to households. In the event of a power outage in an area, heat will still be available with a propane heater. America’s production capacity for propane makes it a viable alternative fuel choice for most households. In the US, the propane industry accounts for $15 billion in domestic value, according to 2009 data collected.
Propane in everyday use
In cooking, propane offers even heat distribution. In dryer, propane dries clothes much more efficiently because they can quickly reach optimal drying temperatures. In outdoor heaters, they are capable of providing heat to areas within a 20-foot radius. The propane tankless heaters lasts on average five more years than the traditional heater. Propane-based fireplaces require little upkeep and less ongoing maintenance than traditional fireplaces.
Propane is a cleaner and more affordable energy source for households. It costs over a dollar more per BTU to power a home with conventional electricity. With the introduction of new technologies, propane will continue to grow in popularity for use in various applications from heating to cooling. Listed as an alternative fuel highly recommended by the US Department of Energy, propane fuel releases fewer carbon emissions and is more energy efficient than its counterparts. Propane specialists can assist with converting a home to a more eco-friendly home to lower monthly energy costs.
Whow, what a deceptive advertisement that prays upon the uninformed:
It is true that propane may be an “alternative” way to fuel heating issues but it is not an “alternative fuel.” It is a fossil fuel that can be found as a component of natural gas.
While true that it can be “cleaner,cheaper and more efficient” It is only more efficient and cleaner than the other fossil fuels of coal or oil. It is likely only cheaper than electricity, but again depending upon the market. In California and New York electricity tends to be expensive in Washington it tends to be much more affordable. In NJ some who used propane for heat hated their monthly propane deliveries and high bills.
Propane cannot compete with piped in natural gas for any of these qualities. It is primarily used as a substitute for natural gas where there is no natural gas utility piping.
While the article never mentions alternative sources of energy it seems to want to share some of that stage. All in all a very disingenuous article.
When you say that propane is not considered an alternative fuel, that’s not quite correct. It’s a hydrocarbon to be sure, but I’m on a monthly con call on alternative fuels, and propane comes up a lot.
That said, it’s a non-solution, to be sure.
The article was extremely puzzling. The author begins, “Millions of households each year consider the benefits of converting their home to propane.” Converting from what? She doesn’t say. Millions of people may have converted from oil to propane; that can make good sense. But she didn’t even mention natural gas. Does she think that it would make sense to convert from natural gas to propane? And way hasn’t she mentioned natural gas?
Decades ago my parents converted from oil to propane when they needed a new furnace; natural gas was not available there. Many people have made the same change. However, I’ve never heard of converting from natural gas to propane.
Surely natural gas is the cleanest fossil fuel; it is cleaner than propane from the CO2 emissions standpoint. But all fossil fuels do emit CO2. Near the end of her article she writes, “Listed as an alternative fuel highly recommended by the US Department of Energy, propane fuel releases fewer carbon emissions and is more energy efficient than its counterparts.” That is true only if she ignores natural gas since natural gas emits less CO2 than propane.
She also seems elated that propane heaters can reach an efficient of 99.8%, but she does not describe the type of propane heaters. Are they the ones used by outdoor sidewalk cafes on chilly days or are they used to heat an enclosed area? Does she advocate heating such outdoor areas even though it is about the most wasteful possible use of fuel? Propane furnaces, and natural gas furnaces as well, which reach efficiencies of about 95% are readily available, but the difference between 95% and 99.8% is very small.
As Breath…. wrote, “All in all a very disingenuous article.”
In case it’s not obvious, I don’t edit guest blog posts. I’m sure many of them contain outrageously incorrect statements.
Craig, I think the article was carefully worded so as to not be “incorrect.” It is deceptive partially because it was so carefully worded.
If an accepted definition of “alternative fuels” are alternative to the fossil fuels of Coal, oil and natural gas, then to say that propane, a derivative of fossil fuels, is an “alternative fuel” is using a non standard definition, a deceptive practice if it is not somehow made clear. http://www.designnews.com/author.asp?doc_id=209565&dfpPParams=ind_184,aid_209565&dfpLayout=blog
The fact that some would push against this definition does not change accepted usage or an attempt to obfuscate rather than clarify.
The article has all the markings of a paid advertisement that is being masked as an article, an increasingly common practice. Without a disclosure this is another deceptive practice.
While I don’t hold you responsible for the contents of the article, publishing it is an editorial choice.
Well, I’m not an attorney, and even if I were, I’m not privy to the details of the case. Based on what I’ve read, however, some extremely senior people in our Department of Justice are pursuing this quite aggressively.
We’ll see.
The best possible response. Fair enough.