Why Invest in Propane Powered Vehicles?

Millions of households already use propane to cook, power generators, and to heat their homes. Businesses also use propane to power and run machinery and other critical operational gear. Propane is also one of the most popular alternative fuels used to drive converted vehicles, allowing for a cleaner burning alternative to highly polluting fossil fuels. You will even find propane-powered buses, street sweepers, and police cars roaming the streets.

The National Propane Gas Association refers to propane as the green solution for environmentally conscious consumers. True enough, the US Department of Energy testifies that propane vehicles emit fewer harmful emissions than gasoline or diesel vehicles, depending on the drive cycle and type.

Propane is a hydrocarbon that may smell as if it can cause real harm to health and the environment, but this scent can be deceiving. In fact, propane is one of the safest alternative fuels there are and in its natural form is virtually odorless. Processing plants only add the artificial odor so that it can be easily detected when leaks occur. Investing in a propane-powered vehicle can mean great benefits that go beyond saving a few bucks on your gasoline consumption. It also means helping protect the environment by reducing your overall carbon footprint.

Propane is indeed a green fuel because it has lower carbon content, making it burn cleaner. It produces fewer tailpipe emissions than petroleum fuels and cannot hurt water or soil because it is non-toxic. Switching to an LPG car will help you reduce your hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide, and greenhouse gas emissions while helping you save on your fuel costs. It is even possible to retrofit or convert an existing vehicle so that it can run using the cheaper and greener alternative fuel. If you want to know why you should consider investing in propane-powered vehicles, the answer is simple -because of its long list of economic and environmentally friendly benefits.

How Propane Can Help You Save Money

Propane is one of the most versatile fuel sources currently available in the market, and there are many practical ways by which you can switch from other energy sources such as electricity, gas, or oil to LPG. In fact, a lot of homes and businesses now rely on propane for their water and space heating needs, backup power, and other energy requirements. Not too long ago, propane also became available as alternative fuel for vehicles, making it the third most popular automotive fuel source in the world, after diesel and oil. In addition to these applications, propane also drives agricultural and landscaping equipment and has the capacity to power a wide range of other machinery and appliances. Depending on how you choose to use propane, there are many ways by which you can save money through this clean fuel:

• Propane is a smart, economical choice because its pricing is a lot more stable. As much a 95 percent of the propane used in North America is produced domestically. Because of this, its pricing is less subject to the fluctuations of foreign oil rates. Allotting budget for propane use on a monthly basis is, therefore, a lot easier, and because propane isn't delivered through a pipeline and is instead stored onsite, you may even save your funds further by buying supplies in bulk when rates are at a seasonal low.
• Propane is a more efficient energy source compared to other fuels because it has twice as much as usable energy per unit than its counterparts. This equates to as high as 98 percent efficiency when running propane appliances. Comparing actual usage costs, it is clearly a value leader.
• Propane heat is hotter (and cheaper). It can produce more consistent heat at a much lower cost (as much as 1/3 less) than other fuel sources.

Handy Tips For Buying Home Heating Propane This Winter

It can be more cost effective and environmentally friendly to heat your home with propane-fueled appliances and furnaces. According to the Department of Energy, the cost of operating your furnace and water heater using electricity is twice the cost of heating with propane. Propane is capable of generating a more comfortable and consistent air supply, too. Choosing the right propane heating solution for your home will complete your family’s warmth and comfort this winter—at a reasonable price. These tips should help you buy the right home heating propane solution for winter:

• Look for a propane heater that includes a strong fan. This type of heater is powerful enough to heat large common areas like your living room and kitchen.

• Consider the size of the room that needs heating. Make sure that the propane heater's size is just right for the room, so you can maintain the temperature at a comfortable level. The device may overheat if it is too small for the room.

• Make sure the propane furnace has an AFUE (annual fuel utilization efficiency) rating of 95 or higher. This way, you can be sure that the unit can produce air that is 25 degrees warmer than what an electric heat pump can generate.

• Do you have an existing fireplace? Consider a propane fireplace insert. Make sure that the fireplace is well designed, with channels behind and around the combustion chamber to allow room air to circulate naturally via convection. The best way to see a gas fireplace's efficiency is to look for its efficiency rating based on CSA P.4, a Canadian standard and test method for measuring annual fireplace efficiency. It is better if the CSA P.4 rating ranges from 70 to 90 percent.

• Consider the design. Propane heaters come in a variety of different designs to suit your home's interior and your personal style. Radiator heaters usually provide a retro look, and tower and panel heaters provide are more modern and contemporary.