As we look for ways to reduce and, ultimately, reverse the harmful effects of climate change, it’s essential to consider the fuel we burn to keep our homes warm, and our appliances powered. There are many opinions out there about the best way to decarbonize. Some push for full “electrification” of all home heating and appliances, but this ignores the incredible strides traditional fuels like propane have made.
Propane is already one of the most eco-friendly fuels out there—and industry research and development is making it even cleaner!
Propane is a co-product of natural gas and crude oil extraction. No new wells need to be dug to extract propane. Almost all the propane you use is produced right here in the United States— in fact, the U.S. exports more propane than we use!
Conventional propane is both energy-efficient and clean-burning. When used in modern heating equipment, it reaches over 90 percent efficiency. Almost no heat energy is lost out of your chimney and into the atmosphere. Propane releases less carbon dioxide than any other major fuel besides natural gas. Better still, propane contains virtually no particulate matter—a known carcinogen—and is wholly non-toxic.
Today, researchers and producers are working to make propane even cleaner. The result is renewable propane.
Renewable propane is molecularly identical to conventional propane, but it’s produced using a mix of waste residues and sustainably sourced materials, including agricultural waste products, cooking oil and meat fats. In many cases, it’s made as a co-product of the biodiesel used in sustainable home heating oil.
Renewable propane has one-half to one-quarter the carbon intensity of conventional propane. Its production has an incredibly low carbon intensity, and it diverts landfill waste that would otherwise be releasing carbon into the atmosphere. Indeed, it’s carbon neutral at the point of combustion, releasing no new carbon into the atmosphere.
And the incorporation of the biogas dimethyl ether, or DME, can potentially create negative carbon intensity for renewable propane. Even though production is just over 200,000 tons per year (less than 1% of total propane production), it’s growing every year. Major corporations like U-Haul are investing in it!
Superior Propane Inc. is proud to keep homes comfortable and safe throughout northern Arizona with reliable supply and delivery of clean, green propane gas. Become a customer today and experience the difference we can make for your home or local business.
