Propane: A Bridge to a Greener Future

Suburban Propane is committed to supporting the growth and innovation of propane as a sustainable energy source. Our Go Green pillar is supported by the tagline “serving communities today, leading the way to a sustainable tomorrow”. Through our Go Green with Suburban Propane initiatives, we are committed to educating the benefits of propane for a sustainable energy future, and investing in the next generation of an even cleaner version of this great American energy source.

As we celebrate the 50^th anniversary of Earth Day this week, it gives us an opportunity to reflect on what each of us can do to lessen the impact on the environment, and that can start with our homes. Did you know that you can lessen your home’s impact on the environment by simply incorporating propane? Propane is not only kinder to the environment, but outperforms other energy sources when it comes to overall performance and energy efficiency — hands down.

Top 10 Sustainability Facts & Figures: How a Home Powered By Propane Can Improve Our Environment

1. Switching from an electric storage water heater to a propane-fueled tankless water heater can prevent more than one ton of greenhouse gas emissions from entering the atmosphere each year, the same amount produced from driving a car more than 3,000 miles.
2. Propane-fueled tankless water heaters emit up to 57% fewer greenhouse gases compared to electric tankless models.
3. Propane fireplaces emit fewer air-polluting emissions compared with wood-burning fireplaces.
4. High-efficiency propane clothes dryers produce up to 42% fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to electric dryers.
5. High-performance water heaters can reduce a home’s energy consumption, improving its Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index.
6. Propane cooking ranges generate up to 15% fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to electric ranges.
7. Propane-fueled residential furnaces emit up to 50% fewer greenhouse gases than electric furnaces and 12% fewer than fuel oil furnaces.
8. Energy Star-qualified propane-fueled furnaces are up to 15% more efficient than standard propane models.
9. Propane-fueled residential storage tank water heaters emit up to 56% fewer greenhouse gases than electric water heaters.
10. A homeowner in the Midwest could offset the carbon emissions from his/her passenger vehicle every year by opting to use a hybrid heating system with a high-efficiency propane furnace instead of an air-source heat pump.

Courtesy of the Propane Education & Research Council