Propane is a by-product of natural gas processing and crude oil refining. It belongs to the liquefied petroleum gas family and is pressurized to transform from a gas into a liquid for easy storage and transportation. Propane is one of America’s most versatile energy sources — it can be used for heating and cooking, as well as powering forklifts, farm irrigation engines and various other vehicles.
While propane is a popular fuel type, it is not the only option available. To determine if propane is a good energy source for your home or business, you must understand the advantages and disadvantages of other fuel types.
Propane is widely used because it has many advantages, especially compared to other energy sources. The benefits of propane include:
The other forms of energy that you can use in your home or business include:
Propane is almost always the superior choice compared to the other fuel types. However, determining the best energy source depends on your preference and usage.
Propane and natural gas are both fossil fuels. Like propane, natural gas is also an efficient and clean-burning energy source.
However, a key difference is that propane is sold in liquid form—available in portable canisters or delivered by truck to permanent storage tanks on your property. Natural gas stays in its gaseous state and must be delivered via a pipeline to your home or business. Propane’s portability is beneficial, as not all properties have the necessary pipelines for natural gas.
Kerosene is also a fossil fuel but is different from propane.
Propane is abundantly produced in the U.S., making it a reliable, readily available fuel source. The biggest disadvantage of using kerosene is its limited availability. Because this fuel is hard to come by, it can be much more expensive to purchase. It can also be challenging to find certified technicians with the necessary skills and knowledge to maintain and service your kerosene equipment.
Finding a trustworthy supplier, such as Foster Fuels, is crucial if you use kerosene in your home or business.
Electricity is a relatively clean and safe energy source — in this sense, it is similar to propane.
However, electricity is a secondary energy source, as it is produced by converting primary energy sources such as solar or fossil fuels like coal. As a result, electricity production can be more resource-intensive, negatively impacting its overall cleanliness, cost and efficiency.
Heating oil is another fossil fuel. It is similar to propane in that it is delivered by trucks and kept in tanks.
But the two are very different — propane burns much cleaner than heating oil. Propane is a nontoxic fuel that can be stored in large underground tanks because there is a low risk of soil contamination. However, heating oil is toxic and can’t be kept underground due to soil contamination concerns.
Propane is flammable and requires specific safety measures when stored. However, wood doesn’t need the same precautions.
That said, propane is still safe when handled with care. Appliances such as gas fireplaces can be much safer than their wood-burning counterparts, as there are no shooting embers or open flames.
Wood is also a renewable energy source. Although conventional propane is a nonrenewable fuel, renewable propane is emerging as an alternative option.
Predominantly produced from hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), renewable propane has all the benefits of its traditional counterpart while offering even lower carbon emissions.
One way to determine the best fuel for your needs is to analyze its BTU content, which measures its heat content. The higher the energy source’s BTU rating, the more heat it produces. The more heat generated, the more efficient the fuel.
Fuels are sold in various units, such as BTU and kilowatt-hours (kWh). Electrical energy is measured in kWh but can be converted to BTU to compare the fuels equally.
Here are the BTUs for the various fuel types:
Propane has a higher BTU content than natural gas and electricity. When comparing the heat generated by propane versus oil and kerosene, the latter two do better but only marginally
Although wood appears to have the highest rating, this is only an estimate as it doesn’t consider the moisture content or the density of the wood. Heat is necessary to remove water when you burn wood. The higher the moisture content, the less heat is available.
For homeowners and businesses, cost is usually one of the most important factors when choosing a fuel type. It is wise to compare the price of the energy sources, such as analyzing the cost of propane versus oil.
However, comparing the cost of each fuel type can be tricky until it is converted to a common measurement. Fuel prices are often expressed in dollars per million thermal units (MMBtu). To accurately compare the prices of the different energy sources, here are the average costs per MMBtu:
Electricity is pricier than propane but has a much lower BTU rating. While propane may seem more expensive than natural gas, it has a much higher BTU rating. Even though you may pay more for propane per MMBtu, the fuel you purchase will be much more efficient. While kerosene and heating oil are cheaper and have a higher BTU, they aren’t as environmentally friendly as propane.
Another critical consideration when selecting a fuel is its environmental impact. Propane is by far the most eco-friendly as it is methane-free, has the lowest carbon emissions per million BTUs and is not a greenhouse gas in its natural state.
Propane is also free from harmful chemicals like nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide. Additionally, when depressurized, propane turns back into a gas, so it won’t spill or pool in the event of a leak.
Let’s look at the other energy sources:
Using propane to power your business or home can save money while reducing your carbon footprint. Finding a reputable supplier is paramount when making the switch. Foster Fuels provides reliable residential and commercial fuel services. For over 100 years, we have been a trusted propane supplier for homeowners and businesses in Virginia.
We deliver fuel to your property and offer auto-fill services. You can trust us to ensure you always have a fuel supply delivered when you need it. Partner with Foster Fuels and order propane online today!