In an effort to reach a goal of creating less environmental damage, there are countless efforts under way to reduce harmful emissions and particulate matter in our atmosphere. You can participate in this fight to make our planet a cleaner place to live by embracing propane.
Propane emits less than half the greenhouse gas emissions of electricity in producing the same amount of energy. That’s primarily because more than 40% of the electricity used in our country is produced by coal-fired power plants. Pollution from such plants can lead to smog and acid rain. But the combustion of propane does not create high enough levels of emissions to cause those problems.
Propane has a lower carbon content than fuel oil, gasoline, diesel, kerosene or ethanol—a big part of the reason it was added to the Clean Air Act as a clean fuel in 1990.
Propane is also nontoxic! It does not spill, pool or leave a residue, and that makes it harmless to soil or water. You can feel comfortable with propane, because there are no risks for long-term damage to your home or property, even in the event of a tank leak.
Propane is much more efficient than electricity in terms of the total energy consumed (this includes the energy consumed in the extraction, production, processing and transportation of the fuel to the point of use). Based on this analysis, propane is 87% efficient; electricity is 32% efficient.
As an example, the energy costs of a tankless propane water heater can be more than $150 per year less than those of a typical electric storage-tank water heater. Less energy used equals less of an environmental impact.
And with a clean-burning, high-efficiency propane furnace, less than 10% of the fuel is wasted in the combustion process. In comparison, more than two-thirds of the energy used by a power plant to generate and transmit electricity is wasted.
Propane autogas is already powering buses, street cleaners, police cars and other vehicles in cities around the world. Many businesses are also using propane to fuel their vehicles.
What makes propane a leading alternative fuel for vehicles of all kinds is its lesser environmental impact. Since propane has a lower carbon content than petroleum products, it burns more cleanly and creates fewer toxic emissions. Some studies have estimated that converting a vehicle to propane can reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 90%.
Propane also has a higher octane level than gasoline, which can reduce that knocking sound you may hear sometimes, as well as the potential damage from it. Your vehicle’s engine may last longer with propane.
