Is Propane the Best Choice for My Home Heating?

5 Benefits that Might Surprise You

When the stock market is volatile, one evergreen piece of advice that comes to mind is to diversify. It’s 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. With energy and fuel prices skyrocketing across the board, many homeowners are looking at ways to save.

Looking ahead to the fall months forthcoming, we’re already anticipating many folks to be lowering the heat and using less hot water as some simple ways to control energy costs.

However, reevaluating the kind of energy you use—and diversifying rather than going all-electric—can help too. Electricity is necessary to run a lot of things—lights, phones, and some appliances both inside and out. But it’s not the smartest choice for all your appliances and systems. Propane is a versatile and efficient choice, and all the benefits to your home, comfort—and, yes, your bottom line—might surprise you.

Why Propane Is So Great

Here are 5 reasons to love propane as your home’s primary fuel source:

1. 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” is that propane also doesn’t harm soil or groundwater in the rare event of a leak.
2. 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, however, is not considered a greenhouse gas itself.
3. 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 also very efficient, so they waste very little fuel in the combustion process.

   On the other hand, the 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. In fact, only the transportation sector creates more greenhouse gases.

4. 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
5. It’s readily available. Because your propane supply is delivered and stored in a tank right on your property, so you’ll always have it on-hand. There’s no fear of 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!

In a nutshell, propane delivers more bang for your energy buck, all while protecting the environment. It’s a win-win for homeowners who care about the environment but also want to keep costs better under control. 

Here at Jack F. Corse Fuels, we have the knowledge, experience, and resources to answer all your questions about the benefits of propane for your Northern Vermont home. Contact us today to learn more, or to get started on converting to propane power.