The Benefits of Propane in New Construction

5 Ways Propane Delivers Added Value and Convenience

Whether you’re designing your dream home from the ground up or you’re a builder looking to get return on investment for a residential project, you need to make a lot of choices. Some are about style—all-stainless appliances in the kitchen or go for built-in? Tile, hardware, paint and flooring—all these can have a big impact on how a finished home looks. Making sure the systems are efficient is another good way to increase the value of your home or make it stand out if you’re looking to sell. That includes thinking about how you heat your home and your water. So now is the time to learn about your options, and discover all of the benefits of propane for fueling everything from heating to hot water supply to propane-fueled appliances and outdoor enhancements.

Here are 5 reasons propane is a smart choice for energy efficient comfort in any new construction:

1. It’s clean. When it comes to environmental impact, propane gas is one of the cleanest and efficient fuels around. It burns cleanly and produces minimal emissions. Another important factor when it comes to evaluating whether a fuel is “green”: Propane also doesn’t harm soil or groundwater.
2. It’s domestic. Did you know propane is also an American energy source? About 90% of the United States’ supply of propane is domestically generated. Most of it comes from the processing of natural gas—which is considered a greenhouse gas when burned. Propane is not considered a greenhouse gas.
3. It’s efficient. Propane generates more Btus than an equivalent amount of electricity, so you need much less propane to produce the same amount of heat or energy. Also, propane appliances are very efficient, so they waste very little fuel in the combustion process. On the other hand, generation of electricity is the second-largest creator of greenhouse gases in the United States. That’s because most of our electricity supply is generated by coal-fired power plants. (Only the transportation sector creates more greenhouse gases.)
4. It’s versatile. Because propane is so efficient at heating, it’s a smarter choice than electricity for a wide variety of appliances. For example, propane water heaters generate much more hot water at a cheaper cost per gallon. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, homes that heat water with propane rather than electricity can see average annual savings of $174. The same technology that makes propane ideal for water heaters makes it a smarter choice than electricity to power all kinds of appliances that use hot water or heat:
   • clothes washers and dryers
   • dishwashers
   • outdoor lighting
   • patio heaters
   • pool and spa-tub heaters
   • outdoor grills
   • stoves and cooktops
5. It’s always available. That’s because your propane supply is delivered and stored in a tank on your property, so you’ll always have it right on-hand. No pipeline problems caused by cold weather, accidents, or deterioration. And consider this: When storms knock out power, a propane-fueled backup generator will keep your lights and everything else running until the utility companies can make repairs. Now that’s peace of mind.

The Bottom Line

In a nutshell, propane delivers more bang for your buck, all while protecting the environment. It’s a win-win for homeowners and builders who care about the environment, but also want to keep costs under control.

Want to learn more? Contact the pros at SWVA. We have the knowledge, experience and resources to answer all your questions about the benefits of a propane for your Southwestern Virginia home.