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Paul and Susan Kadilak have been building and remodeling homes in Massachusetts for 20 years. For the past eight years, their business Kadilak Homes has been participating in a construction research program with the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC). The program was created to collect data and inform research on propane appliances used for heating, cooking, hot water, and fireplaces in homes. In exchange, builders receive rebates for their participation.
Paul and Susan Kadilak of Kadilak Homes
PERC’s Propane Construction Research Program (PCRP) provides qualifying builders $1,500 per home for installing propane appliances. In 2023, the program awarded more than $2 million to more than 1,600 homes across 25 states in the U.S. According to Paul, PERC makes it easy for builders to apply for the rebate and process paperwork.
“People want propane or natural gas,” said Paul Kadilak. “They want it for cooking and efficiency, so any opportunity we have to convert an old house or build a new house, we’ll bring in propane.”
In addition to providing PERC with valuable data, the PCRP is also used to help builders lower household emissions and provide greater comfort to their customers.Propane emits zero methane, reduces nitrogen oxides by over 90% compared to diesel, virtually eliminates particulate matter and lowers carbon emissions. In 2023, the rebate program eliminated 19 million pounds of carbon dioxide according to PERC calculations. This is equal to greenhouse gas emissions from more than 2,000 gas-powered cars, nearly a million gallons of gas consumed, 580 billion smartphones being charged, and 1,700 homes’ energy use for an entire year.
“I think people are concerned about the environment and cost, and propane addresses both of those,” said Paul. “Propane burns cleaner…it’s a selling point that should be highlighted for homebuyers.”
Not only is propane a clean energy source, but it’s also a safe choice. In addition to building and remodeling homes, Paul has served his community as a firefighter for the past 16 years. “During my time as a firefighter, I’ve only witnessed one fire related to propane, and it was a gas grill. I would be much more concerned about having diesel in my basement.”
“There is also a misperception that natural gas is safer than propane, and that’s simply not true,” said Paul. Natural gas is delivered to homes through an underground pipeline network while propane is stored on-site. Because propane is stored on-site and is not connected to the electric grid, Paul says homes that use propane are more resilient. Paul and Susan have a 500-gallon propane tank at their home, and they enjoy the reliability it affords them during extremely cold winters. For homeowners living in the Northeast, propane is attractive because it performs well during very cold winters. The cleanliness, efficiency, and affordability of propane make it an excellent choice for homeowners who live in colder climates.
“There are a lot of things we didn’t know about propane until we got into the construction business,” said Paul. “As a builder, it’s our job to make sure our clients know their options and choose solutions that make the most sense based on where they live.”
Knowing that propane can power much more than a backyard grill is the first step in educating homeowners.
For more information on PERC’s PCRP program, visit https://propane.com/pcrp/
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