How Much Do You Know About Propane?

Some Facts about Propane That May Surprise You

Despite the fact that propane has been used to fuel appliances and gas heating equipment for about 100 years, there are still quite a few misconceptions about how safe it is, how it can be used and other wrong beliefs.

Propane Is Versatile

It’s amazing when you add up all of the ways you can use propane. First, propane can run your home’s heating system, heat your water, dry your clothes, power your fireplace and run stoves and cooktops. You can also take propane outside to fuel your backyard grill, patio heaters, fire pits, pool and spa heaters, outdoor fireplaces and more! Propane is also invaluable as a versatile fuel for just about any farm or commercial application. It is also widely used a motor fuel, known in this case as propane autogas.

Propane Is Remarkably Safe

Propane is perfectly safe when it is used with proper care, just like any other heating fuel. Propane has a remarkable safety record, due in large part to the stringent codes and regulations developed by the propane industry and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

And in North Carolina, propane dealers and their technicians, drivers and staff comply with state regulations that require periodic testing and training in order to ensure your safety. Read about propane safety.

Propane Is Friendly to the Environment

Propane has a lower carbon content than fuel oil, gasoline, diesel, kerosene and ethanol – a big part of the reason it was added to the Clean Air Act as a clean fuel in 1990.

Propane also emits less than half the greenhouse gas emissions of electricity to produce the same amount of energy. That’s primarily because a lot of the electricity used in our country is still produced by coal-fired plants.

Propane-powered appliances are typically much more efficient than electric models of similar size and output. Less energy used translates to less environmental impact. Consider this: propane generates much more Btu’s than an equivalent amount of electricity. Put another way, you need much less propane to produce the same amount of heat energy. For example, just one gallon of propane equals 27 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity.

Read more about propane compared to electricity.

The propane industry remains strongly committed to using less energy and improving our air by way of carbon reduction, sustainable practices and diminishing—or eliminating—our carbon footprint. The advent of renewable propane is part of that solution. Read more.

Propane Is Highly Efficient

Propane heats fast and effectively, with many propane appliances reaching super efficiencies of 98%. And because propane is clean-burning, investing in propane equipment saves you money since your equipment will need less maintenance and last longer.

Facts about Propane in North Carolina

Here are some numbers and facts to give you a better understanding of how important propane is to the people of North Carolina.

• Propane is a billion-dollar industry in North Carolina.
• Propane companies deliver more than 400 million gallons of propane each year.
• There are more than 400 licensed propane suppliers in the Tar Heel State.
• Our propane industry has more than 2,200 retail employees.
• There are about 335,000 North Carolina households using propane.
• There are propane customers and locations in all 100 counties in North Carolina.

Let’s end with a few more facts. Almost all the propane used in the U.S. is produced domestically, meaning every gallon you buy contributes to the independence of America’s energy needs.

Maintaining a propane tank on your property gives you the ability to store a sufficient supply that’s always ready for immediate use, eliminating any dependence on an underground gas pipeline—just one more reason to feel good about using propane. It’s the Energy for Everyone!