Propane Gas

Since the early 1920's, propane has been a common fuel in homes and businesses. This is because propane is the better value. Electricity is more than twice as costly as propane, on a nationwide average, according to a U.S. Department of Energy Study. A propane gas furnace saves around $300 annually compared to an electric one. Propane water heaters save up to $150 annually over electric and heats up to 2 ½ times the water with the same amount of energy. Electric heat pumps must often be supplemented with electric strip heat, resulting in higher costs and lower efficiency. And homes powered by propane can have a better resale value and, on average, cost less to run than homes with all-electric appliances.

And propane is cleaner. Electricity produces twice as much carbon dioxide as propane per pound of fuel burned. Only 35 percent of the coal burned annually to produce electricity is actually converted into electricity, whereas propane delivers nearly 90 percent of the fuel drawn from the well.

Now, where does propane come from? Liquefied petroleum gas (commonly called LP-gas or propane) is a derivative of two large energy industries: natural gas processing and crude oil refining. When natural gas is drawn out of the earth, it is a mixture of several hydrocarbon gases. Methane, which is sold by gas utilities as "natural gas", constitutes about 90 percent of this mixture. Of the remaining 10 percent, 5 percent is propane and 5 percent is other gases such as butane and ethane. Propane is separated from the natural gas mixture, and most of it is sent through a pipeline system to bulk storage facilities across the nation. What isn't shipped through the pipeline system is either transported by truck, rail car or barge. Fifty-nine percent of all propane is derived from this process.

Crude oil refining is the source for the other 41 percent of propane supplies. After crude oil is drawn from the well, it is refined into various petroleum products, and propane is a derivative of this process. Propane is transported from the refining facilities to bulk storage plants the same way it is shipped from natural gas processing plants.

Propane is the preferred choice of millions of consumers. So why not put Nu-Gas to work for you? Call, write or e-mail us today.