Global warming, climate change, greenhouse gases, and going green – we hear about these things every day, but where do we fit in, and what can we do on a practical level to make a difference? Where does propane fit into the “green energy” landscape? As it turns out, new research is confirming what many of us already knew – propane is a responsible, clean-burning, non-toxic fuel with a variety of residential and commercial applications!
The top three sources of CO2 emissions are, respectively: electric power production (electricity may be clean to use, but it’s not necessarily clean to generate!), transportation (primarily gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel), and residential and commercial heating (including industrial process heat). 1 This data takes into account both the upstream emissions (like coal-burning electricity generation) and end-use emissions (for example, tailpipe emissions from burning motor fuels). In comparison, propane is considered a green alternative, listed in the Clean Air Act of 1990, and the National Energy Policy Act of 1992 and 2005. Propane is produced during the crude oil refining process or from natural gas, and has a relatively low upstream impact. In addition, as a lighter hydrocarbon, it has a small greenhouse gas footprint relative to other fuels in terms of emissions when consumed.
So, how can propane help us reduce greenhouse emissions? For heating, propane produces significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions than either fuel oil or electric heat. As a motor fuel, propane has a lower carbon footprint than the majority of competitive fuels. In fact, propane is on par with or better than competitive fuels for total greenhouse gas emissions in just about any application! 2 There’s a tremendous amount of activity right now focused on expanding the use and convenience of propane as a motor fuel, along with other applications in agriculture, construction, and the residential market.
Are you interested in going green? Whether you want to convert to propane from a less environmentally-friendly fuel source, or you want to upgrade to a more responsible and economical appliance such as a tankless water heater or high-efficiency furnace, SchagrinGAS Company has the knowledge, experience, and selection to save you money while reducing your carbon footprint!
Emissions of Greenhouse Gases in the United States 2008; U.S. Energy Information Administration; December, 2009; ftp://ftp.eia.doe.gov/pub/oiaf/1605/cdrom/pdf/ggrpt/057308.pdf Propane Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emissions: A Comparative Analysis; Propane Education & Research Council; December, 2009;http://www.propanecouncil.org/uploadedFiles/Propane%20GHG%20FINAL%20WEB%20150-11-20-2009.pdf
Want additional information on energy and the environment?
Propane Education & Research Council http://www.propanecouncil.org/ U.S. Energy Information Administration http://www.eia.doe.gov/