Why Natural Gas is a More Efficient Alternative to Electricity

Homeowners who plan to make the switch to natural gas for some or all of their household needs should consider the various reasons why natural gas is more eco-friendly than electricity in many everyday applications. Taking a look at the differences between gas and electricity in different home applications will make it clear why natural gas is often the greener option.

Stovetop Cooking
Stoves that are powered by natural gas are actually better than electric ones in several ways. For one, the user has more control over the amount of energy actually consumed. An electric stove takes several minutes to reach the optimal temperature for cooking, while a gas stove produces the desired amount of heat instantly. This makes gas stoves more energy efficient than electric ones. Some stoves use a combination of natural gas for cooking, but have an electric pilot light. These stoves ensure that natural gas is not wasted while keeping the pilot continuously lit. Because the Department of Energy estimates that cooking comprises almost 5% of everyday energy consumption, switching to a natural gas powered stove is a more efficient alternative than electricity for stovetop cooking.

Cooling and Refrigeration
Natural gas like that available from plusgas.com.au in Brisbane is one of the only options for off-the-grid refrigeration, and is often used in air conditioning systems. This eco-friendly alternative to electric refrigeration is not considered to have high global warming potential, nor is it believed to have a high risk of causing ozone depletion. These refrigerant systems, called gas absorption refrigerators, do not run on electricity. They are powered by a combination of dry propane and butane.

Home Heating
Natural gas from bottled gas suppliers is the only way some rural areas have access to heat. The technologies used to heat using natural gas can also be used to generate electricity, and this can be an energy efficient way to heat or even power homes that don’t already have access to natural gas pipelines. Combining natural gas with other types of heating systems can reduce emissions significantly.

General Powering
Those who are interested in switching to natural gas, but still want access to electricity, can actually generate their own power using fuel from LPG gas suppliers. Liquid petroleum gas can be used to fuel turbines that generate electricity. While most homes do not produce their own electricity in this way, for those who want to be completely off-the-grid, it is a viable way to produce reliable electrical power. In conjunction with less reliable methods of generating electricity, such as wind power and solar power, bottled gas can be a backup component to create a completely self-sufficient setup that has low emissions and a low carbon footprint.

Homes that switch to natural gas often work directly with liquid petroleum gas suppliers to provide for their own energy needs. LPG gas suppliers provide liquid petroleum gas, often simply referred to as bottled gas. Propane and butane are two of the most common kinds used in all the above mentioned applications. Making the switch to gas often gives homeowners a greater awareness of actual energy consumption within the home, and this can help a household significantly reduce its carbon footprint.