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Written on: May 30, 2019
Heating oil and propane are safe and efficient home heating fuels that keep getting better. Here are some reasons to feel good about your options.
To give you a better idea about how “propane can do that,” take a look at some of your options for taking propane outdoors.
Thanks to research and development being spearheaded by the National Oilheat Research Alliance (NORA), heating oil is being made more cleanly and efficiently than ever before. The overall goal is to keep improving the quality of fuel and the efficiency of oil heat equipment. This will further reduce the carbon footprint and actually turn heating oil into a carbon-neutral energy source.
The industry is also working on the development of an oil-fired thermal heat pump, to provide more equipment options for oil heat consumers.
With all of this in the mix, it’s no wonder that NORA has raised an alarm about a push by some states to encourage conversions to electric heat. Research has shown that such “policy-driven electrification” would increase the average residential household cost, result in minimal reductions in emissions and put a severe strain on the electric grid.*
“It is premature for policy makers to consider regulating against oil heating when all liquid fuel furnaces and boilers could be run on a low-carbon alternative fuel before 2035,” says John Huber, NORA’s president. “The capability of the oil heating industry to innovate and reduce carbon emissions has not been adequately recognized.”
* Source: Richard Sweetser presentation, NORA Technology Workshop, Sept. 2018.
** Source: Energy, Cost and CO2e Analyses of Reversible, Hybrid and Heating Only LF-AHP in the Northeast, Christopher Keinath, PhD, Thomas Butcher, PhD, and Michael Garrabrant, PE, ASHRAE, June 2018.
We talk a lot about the importance of great service. And a huge part of that is safety — for your home and property, for our staff, and for the environment.
It starts with our fuel products. Heating oil is exceptionally safe. It won’t burn even if you drop a lit match into it. And the risk of carbon monoxide is minimal. As for propane, this is a clean-burning, nontoxic fuel that doesn’t pose a threat to soil and water above or below the ground.
Our staff is highly trained, and that training ensures careful handling and storage and prevents spills, accidents and injuries.
This end-to-end commitment to safety can’t be duplicated by the natural gas utilities. Problems with gas pipelines can often go undetected, and may result in property damage. Last year in Massachusetts, a faulty pipeline led to several gas explosions and numerous fires.
You can rest easy knowing that safety isn’t just talk with us. We deliver it with every gallon of heating oil and propane we bring to your home.
How many ways are you using propane at home?
Heat your home: propane-fired furnaces and boilers are much more efficient and generate greater comfort than electricity. And by increasing your usage, you may qualify for a lower price.
Heat water: propane water heaters can cost less to operate than electric units. They provide much more hot water faster, and come in both storage-tank and tankless options.
Cook: propane cooktops/stoves offer more precise temperature control and are cheaper to run than their electric counterparts.
Dry clothes: propane dryers are almost twice as efficient as electric models, drying your clothes faster and for less money.
Fireplace glow: imagine being able to start a fire with the flick of a switch. It’s possible with propane — and a propane fireplace delivers more heat into the room than a wood fireplace, without all the smoke and mess.
Emergency power: propane is a popular choice as a fuel for whole-house backup generators. And since your fuel is stored right on your property, you can continue to enjoy all the comforts of home until your power is restored.
