Surveys have shown that while propane and heating oil customers have exceptionally high levels of satisfaction with the service they receive, most don’t realize all the ways their home fuel can enhance their comfort and save them money.
5 key propane benefits
- Clean and green — Propane emits far less greenhouse gas than most other energy sources. Because of the clean-burning characteristics of propane, little maintenance is required.
- Cost-effective — Propane appliances can be less expensive to operate than comparable electric appliances, and they last longer too!
- Safe — The National Fire Protection Association enforces strict rules about the handling of propane, so few accidents occur each year. Every propane appliance is made with safety shutoffs, and most appliances are equipped with electronic ignition systems to give you years of trouble-free operation.
- Efficient — Propane appliances typically reduce energy costs, delivering better value and comfort than other heating sources. Today’s propane furnaces are now as much as 98% efficient.
- Flexible installations — Propane tanks can be installed just about anywhere, above or below ground. Additionally, propane water heaters take up less space, have more accurate temperature adjustment and offer more size and installation options.
Oil heat “techs” it to the limit
Technology has improved efficiency so much that it has reduced annual fuel consumption by as much as 40%, saving oil heat consumers a lot of money on fuel. And because new systems burn cleanly and don’t need as much fuel, they do not pose a hazard to the environment.
Additionally, sulfur levels have been reduced dramatically, improving heating system efficiency and cleanliness and reducing emissions. This reformulated fuel also eliminates the source of most equipment breakdowns. The advent of heating oil with low sulfur content has paved the way for the next generation of compact, super-efficient boilers and furnaces.
This is only the beginning. The quality of heating oil will get even better in the years ahead. And that’s good news for the environment!
In contrast, serious concerns are being raised about the aging infrastructure of natural gas pipelines, which are being strained to capacity, especially during extreme cold spells. Many of these old pipelines are also leaking methane — a damaging greenhouse gas — into the atmosphere.
And that’s bad news for the environment!
Propane power vs. electric power
- CLEANER than electricity
- Because propane is nontoxic and doesn’t pose a threat to soil and water, (above or below ground), it is not regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency.
- The average propane-powered home reduces carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 30%compared with all-electric homes.
- Direct use of propane for space heating, water heating, cooking and drying clothes reduces greenhouse gas emissions up to 50%
- MORE EFFICIENT than electricity
Electricity 32% Efficient | Propane 87% Efficient
- Propane is more efficient than electricity when evaluating the total energy consumed (this includes the energy used in the extraction, production, processing and transportation of the fuel to the point of use).
- Most high-efficiency propane furnaces feature two-stage gas burners and variable-speed motors to deliver all the warm air you need. That’s why, on the coldest of nights, propane-heated homes are much warmer than those that rely solely on electric heat.
Sources: National Propane Gas Association; Propane Education & Research Council.
How efficient is oil heat?
Oil heat is efficient and more economical than ever! The latest oil heating systems are small, smart and super-efficient and can save you, on average, about 30% on your annual heating costs. Here are three more quick points about oil heat efficiency.
#New oil heat systems have efficiency ratings as high as 95%! This provides oil-heated homes with more warmth for less fuel.
#Compared with 25 years ago, homeowners now need an average of 500 gallons less oil to heat their homes each year. That’s because new oil heating systems are much more efficient than those from a generation ago.
#New oil heating systems are much smaller than older ones. The average boilers and furnaces today are powerful, yet compact — similar in size to a three-drawer filing cabinet.