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There’s a lot at stake when building or remodeling your home. In addition to picking out cabinets or carpet, you must decide on the right energy source to power your home. From home heating and cooling, to cooking and hot water supply, choosing the wrong energy source for major home appliances can significantly raise utility bills, create uncertainty during unpredictable weather, and increase carbon emissions.
In 2023, the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) gathered data through its Propane Construction Research Program (PCRP) to study energy consumption and carbon emissions in residential construction. The program’s results provide real-world data to help homeowners make informed energy decisions that will create healthier, cleaner and more efficient homes.
Support a Clean Energy Future with Propane
Our homes have a significant impact on the environment. According to Energy.gov, the average U.S. household produced roughly 17,320 pounds of CO2 in 2019. Results from PCRP prove that powering homes with propane can significantly reduce a home’s carbon footprint. In 2023 alone, the program found that participating builders helped eliminate 19 million pounds of CO2 from the environment by simply integrating propane into their new build or home remodel. This staggering amount is equivalent to the emissions produced from 2,094 gasoline-powered passenger vehicles driven for one year, more than 580 million smartphones charged, or the entire energy use of 1,736 homes for one year.
Propane appliances also play an important role in a clean energy future. Using propane produces 52 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than using an equivalent amount of electricity generated from the U.S. grid. Propane-fueled clothes dryers, for example, use up to 20% less energy and can save up to 0.3 metric tons of CO2 annually. This significant impact could potentially cut carbon dioxide emissions by as much as three tons over a dryer’s useful life – the same amount of emissions produced when powering an average home for nearly six months.
Experience Unmatched Efficiency with Propane
If you want to increase your home’s efficiency, propane-powered appliances offer unmatched advantages compared with appliances powered by other energy sources. In homes with moderate hot water use, propane-powered tankless water heaters are up to 34% more energy efficient than conventional storage water heaters. They also deliver hot water faster and even offer up to 50% in cost savings compared with electric options. This efficiency boost can significantly reduce a home’s total energy consumption and improve its Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Index score. For example, a new home in the Northeast with a propane-fueled condensing tankless water heater can achieve a HERS Index score of 50, making it 5% more efficient than a s home with a standard-efficiency electric storage water heater.
Propane-powered fireplaces and clothes dryers also stand out from those powered by other energy options. A propane fireplace can achieve an efficiency rating of more than 90%, compared to roughly 15% for traditional wood-burning fireplaces. Additionally, propane-powered clothes dryers dry clothes faster, are gentler on fabrics, and use up to 20% less energy than other clothes dryers. These efficiency benefits translate to significant energy and cost savings.
Propane-powered homes are the right choice for homeowners who want to decrease energy costs, increase efficiency, and reduce their carbon footprints. And clean-energy initiatives like PCRP are leading the way by promoting cleaner and more sustainable practices. In fact, PCRP applications are now open for 2024. Why not discuss the advantages of propane with your contractor? Builders and remodelers can earn up to $1,500 per home and drive positive change in their industry by simply participating in this program.
For more information on how you can be part of this movement toward a cleaner future, visit propane.com/pcrp
