Key Differences Between Propane and Natural Gas

Woman cooking on a propane kitchen range

You have a lot to think about when you’re building a new home; what contractors to use, design, materials, finishes and the list goes on and on. Another important may be choosing a primary energy source to power your major appliances like furnaces and water heaters. Propane and natural gas are popular options because of their performance and efficiency. However, there are key differences when comparing propane and natural gas that you should know.

The Greener Energy

While both propane and natural gas are environmentally friendly, propane is considered the cleanest fossil fuel, emitting far less greenhouse gas than most other energy sources, including natural gas.

Propane is a low-carbon fuel that is non-toxic to soil, groundwater and the atmosphere. Natural gas, on the other hand, when leaked into the environment is a large contributor to greenhouse gases as it’s mainly comprised of methane.

Most Cost-Effective

At first glance, natural gas appears more cost-effective with a lower cost per gallon. However, propane delivers more than twice the energy as natural gas. For that reason, propane appliances require less fuel to heat your home and power your appliances, offering more bang for your buck.

Plus, propane doesn’t require metering or monthly fees, like natural gas. Propane offers automatic deliveries, keep-full, pre-buy and other plans to suit your needs, so you won’t have to worry during the longest, coldest months.

More Flexibility

If you decide to use natural gas, there is no control over the provider. The only source is the utility that owns the distribution rights for your location. Consequently, not all areas have a natural gas pipeline, which could require the utility company to run lines to serve outlying areas and then connect them by digging trenches on your property to connect your home. This can be expensive and may not be feasible from a cost perspective depending on your location.

Since propane is delivered to a tank on your property, you have complete control over what supplier to buy from and when your propane is delivered. You don’t need to rely on living in service areas of utility companies, as your propane supplier delivers it to you and safely fills your tank. This opens the flexibility to build a home with a dependable energy supply nearly anywhere.

Talk to your professional propane dealer and discover how propane can be a clean, cost-effective and reliable energy source for your home based on your situation and needs.

You can also learn more about why so many people enjoy all the benefits of the propane lifestyle! Follow MOPERC on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, or view other information about the propane lifestyle.

Source:

1 – https://www.edf.org/climate/methane-other-important-greenhouse-gas