Without a doubt, climate change is a massive problem that requires multiple green energy solutions working in tandem. At LG Jordan Oil & Gas, we want to help customers make responsible environmental choices while ensuring their home comfort.
That’s one of the reasons we’re so proud to be the premier propane delivery company in Wake, Chatham, Harnett and surrounding counties. You see, propane is one of the most eco-friendly fuels around — and it’s becoming greener every year.
Most propane is a co-product of natural gas extraction and oil refining. This means that no new wells are drilled to produce it. And that’s only the beginning of its environmental benefits.
Propane has a much lower carbon intensity (CI) than pretty much any other home energy source besides natural gas. Its CI is far lower than U.S. grid-sourced electricity. Indeed, over half of North Carolina’s in-state electricity generation is sourced from fossil fuels.
Propane is methane-free, which is crucial since, in its first 20 years after reaching the atmosphere, methane is over 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide at trapping heat. Propane also contains virtually no particulate matter, a carcinogen.
One of the other significant benefits of propane is the efficiency of the equipment burning it. Propane-fired heating products have fuel efficiency ratings well into the high-90s. So, almost no heat energy goes out of your chimney during combustion. That’s good news for the planet and your fuel budget!
Conventional propane is already environmentally friendly, but the advent of renewable propane is taking green energy to a new level.
Renewable propane is made from many of the same organic feedstocks as biodiesel. Many of these feedstocks are what you would consider waste products, so food resources aren’t sacrificed in the process. Recycled sources include:
Other sources of renewable propane include soybean oil and inedible corn oil. There’s also been promising research involving seed oil plants like camelina sativa and pongamia pinnata. These plants require little water and grow on land that would otherwise be fallow.
Renewable propane’s CI is significantly lower than conventional propane — typically half the intensity or lower. It’s actually carbon neutral at the point of combustion!
There is no molecular difference between renewable propane and conventional propane. You can use it in a propane appliance without modification. While renewable propane isn’t widely used in homes yet, U.S. producers made about 4.6 million gallons in 2021. And the production continues to grow!
At LG Jordan, we recommend that homeowners consider upgrading to high-efficiency gas equipment. Investing in efficiency will lower your home’s carbon footprint and also save you money on energy for years to come.
Consider the Rinnai propane tankless water heaters we sell and install. The U.S. Department of Energy advises that tankless water heaters are up to 34 percent more efficient than storage tank products because they only generate hot water when needed.
If you want to explore efficient propane appliances that will lower your home’s carbon emissions and energy budget, drop us a line today.
