Propane: An Eco-Friendly Fuel Option For Your Home

1. Propane: An Eco-Friendly Fuel Option For Your Home Global warming has certainly raised a red flag, prompting more people to become concerned about the environment. If you want to be a part of the solution, it’s time to switch to using a clean, efficient, environmentally friendly fuel in your home. Propane is one of the cleanest burning fossil fuels acknowledged in the Energy Policy Act of 1992 and the 1990 Clean Air Act. To prove the fuel's safety and efficiency, the US Environmental Protection Agency found that vehicles running on propane produce about 50 percent fewer smog-producing emissions and toxins, and around 30 to 90 percent less carbon monoxide than vehicles running on gasoline. Propane itself is a nontoxic fuel, so it will not contaminate water or soil. Propane is not merely environmentally friendly. It is also an economical way to run your heating appliances and cooking range. The US Department of Energy found the savings you can acquire by heating water with propane is up to 30 percent each year. Moreover, you can save up to 50 percent if you use a propane dryer instead of an electric clothes dryer. Heating water with propane is faster, too. On average, an entire tank of hot water can be ready in 20 minutes when heated via propane (unlike when it is heated with electricity, which may take up to an hour). When you view it on a BTU basis, propane typically saves you a lot of money. Electric space heaters and furnaces are not as efficient as propane heaters. A propane heater can keep the air supply consistent at around 115 degrees Fahrenheit, which is more comfortable than the slightly higher temperature generated by electric heat pumps. Propane heaters eliminate the need to use supplemental heat sources. Most people who use electric heaters complain about cold spots and drafty areas, so they end up using more heat sources, leading to an increase in their heating bills and additional greenhouse gas emissions. In case of inclement weather and a power outage, you can still rely on propane to heat your home. A propane gas furnace is found to have an average lifespan of 20 years while electric heat pumps typically last up to 14 years. A long-lasting propane furnace will help reduce the need for immediate replacement so that you can minimize your trash and contributions to landfills. It is cheaper to have a propane furnace repaired, too, so you get to save money in that area as well.