Propane: The Versatile and Sustainable Fuel Solution
Written on: January 8, 2024
5 Benefits of Propane that Might Surprise You
Climate change is an important concern for all of us. But electrification isn’t the ideal way to go about it. Reevaluating the kind of energy you use—and diversifying rather than going all-electric—can help too. Of course electricity is necessary to run a lot of things—lights, phones, your computer. But it’s not the smartest choice for all your appliances and systems. Propane is a versatile, sustainable 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.
Propane Means Business
From manufacturing, construction and warehousing, to agriculture, landscaping, hospitality and a broad range of other industries, commercial propane can help you provide value to your customers without hurting your bottom line.
Just as it heats homes efficiently, propane provides consistent heat ideal for warming livestock barns, hatcheries and greenhouses. Clean-burning propane can power landscaping and agricultural equipment, from commercial mowers to irrigation engines. Propane-fueled forklifts can be used outdoors in wet conditions, operate at 100% power as long as there’s propane in the cylinder, and are easy to refuel with replaceable cylinders and our convenient cylinder exchange service. Restaurants and hotels use propane for cooking as well as outdoor space heaters and firepits. Hotels, hospitals, nursing facilities all benefit from propane for cooking, water heating and space heating, as well as for industrial washers and clothes dryers, just to name a few.
The Bottom Line
In a nutshell, propane delivers more bang for your buck, all while protecting the environment. It’s a win-win for homeowners and businesses who care about the environment, but also want to keep costs under control.
Talk to the Pros at Pico. We have the knowledge, experience and resources to answer all your questions about the benefits of a propane for your home and business. Contact us today to learn more.
