Residential Construction With Propane

For residential construction projects, propane provides the reliability, comfort and efficiency that undertaking demands. Building with propane leads to cleaner energy use and lower energy costs while also supporting modern lifestyles. Propane is builder friendly, reliable, safe and is domestically produced. Continue reading to learn how propane accomplishes all of these benefits!

Clean Energy

Propane emits significantly less CO₂ compared to electricity for key residential applications like water heating. That is because coal-fired power plants produce about 30% of the electricity in the U.S. For example, a typical electric storage tank water heater can have emissions two-and-a-half times higher than those of a propane tankless system. The reduction in CO₂ emissions from using a propane tankless water heater over its lifespan is equivalent to switching 432 incandescent light bulbs to CFLs. CFLs use about 70% less energy than incandescent bulbs. Propane systems can even help to earn points under green building programs like the National Green Building Standard.

Reduces Energy Costs

Propane appliances are typically far more efficient than their electric counterparts. For example, propane tankless water heaters can be up to 34% more energy-efficient than conventional storage water heaters in homes that have moderate hot-water use. High-efficiency propane furnaces offer best-in-class efficiency, with ratings of 98 annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) now available. That 98% efficiency means big savings on heating bills for homeowners, coupled with an affordable installation cost for the heating system.

Supports Modern Lifestyles

Propane provides the ability to choose first-rate amenities regardless of where you live. Both forced-air and radiant space heating systems are available with propane, which can be zoned for individual room comfort. And propane standby generators can provide peace of mind and security in locations that experience power outages.

Builder-Friendly

With propane, you’re not at the mercy of a public utility. Propane professionals can install properly sized propane storage and connect home appliances and other applications on your build schedule. Storage tanks can be placed aboveground or buried underground. Large community propane systems can even be designed to fuel an entire development. Propane also provides jobsite flexibility by providing gas energy for portable generators and temporary construction heaters.

Domestically Produced

Propane is an efficient, clean byproduct of oil refining and natural gas processing. Propane is made in America, and a transportation network that includes pipelines, rail, and trucks distributes it to retailer distribution points across the country. Propane’s reach goes well beyond that of natural gas, whose limited infrastructure is costly to expand. That makes propane a readily available and affordable domestic gas energy source that contributes to U.S. jobs, economic growth, and energy security.

Designed for Safety

Typically used in gas form, propane is stored and transported as a liquid under pressure. Propane is nontoxic and odorless, so processors add a chemical odorant (ethyl mercaptan) to help users detect leaks by way of an easy-to-identify rotten-egg smell.

To try the interactive Virtual Propane Home, which shows HERS Index ratings of propane homes across the U.S., go to Propane.com/Interactive-Training-Module.