jeudi 30 octobre 2014

Propane: A Viable Alternative For Home Use

By Cath Buhr


Many Americans are conserving their fuel use not only to reduce costs but also to reduce environmental impact. However, for the majority of Americans, their sources of fuel often are contributing to pollution and climate change. There are alternatives to consider that not only make less of an impact, they also can lower your energy bills, and propane is one of the most accessible alternative fuels available today.

While coal has been a dominant fuel source in the United States for more than a century, the effect on the environment is highly negative. Every year, more than four million tons of CO2 ends up in our atmosphere because of the burning of coal. While you might debate whether or not this is contributing to climate change, this coal pollution does considerable harm to those with lung issues, such as people with asthma, COPD and other lung diseases.

Another popular fuel source is natural gas, which does emit much lower amounts of carbon dioxide than the burning of coal. However, the methane gas that can leak from natural gas pipes has been found to be even more harmful than carbon dioxide, trapping heat in our atmosphere to a greater degree than CO2. Obviously, natural gas suppliers do their best to ensure that natural gas does not leak into the atmosphere; however, this energy source still is considered a greenhouse gas.

While toxic greenhouse gases are not released from a nuclear power plant, there are several reasons why this fuel source can be a problem. While accidents at nuclear power plants are very rare, the results of a major accident can be catastrophic. Spent fuel rods at the plant must be stored for as many as 2,000 years before they are safe for the environment, and the start-up and maintenance costs of nuclear power plants are very high. Of course, there are few energy sources that don't have the potential for danger and coal fires and natural gas explosions certainly can be disastrous.

Solar power and wind power are two sources of power that produce no greenhouse gases and, of course, are completely renewable sources of energy. There will always be energy from the sun and there will always be wind, although the amount of energy garnered by the sun or wind depends upon your location on the globe. While both sources of energy are gaining steam, it will be some time before these are truly viable sources of energy for the masses.

If you are searching for an easy, cost-effective alternative fuel for your home, propane is an excellent option. Propane is considered a clean fuel and produces much less carbon dioxide than coal. Not only is it greener than coal and natural gas, it can be less expensive, especially if you pre-buy your yearly propane when prices drop to their lowest levels. Generally prices per gallon are very low from June through August, and the prices are the highest in January and also February. If you need Ohio propane, Pennsylvania propane, Indiana propane or perhaps Maryland propane, Thrifty Propane allows customers to pre-buy are lock in prices when the cost per gallon is low.




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