Millions of Americans rely on propane for dependable energy at home, at work, on the road and on the farm and, when you examine the reliability of this alternative energy source, it’s easy to understand why.
After experiencing recent vulnerabilities in our grid, both homeowners and business owners are seeking true resiliency—and construction professionals can meet this need by offering propane-powered systems.
Propane is a reliable, portable energy source that can help support Americans even when the grid goes down—which could happen at any time. Additionally, using propane helps reduce the strain on our fragile electric grid and the more diverse America’s energy mix is, the more reliable it is. Propane can also complement solar and wind systems to reduce emissions while providing reliability, especially during challenging weather conditions.
Give Your Customers Unmatched Versatility
Regardless of a project’s size, location or proximity to the grid, propane offers a versatile energy solution. Because of propane’s scalability, it can power any size project, home, or business—on or off the grid. This means protecting customers from the damage a power outage can cause and keeping them running nonstop, even during the unexpected. In addition, propane offers a great solution for towable and portable power on construction sites.
Reliable Performance, No Matter What
Propane standby generators are permanently installed onsite, providing quiet, efficient and clean peace of mind. Power kicks in almost instantly (in as little as 10 seconds after a main power outage) so there’s no disruption to critical systems like heating and cooling, lighting or refrigeration. This quick bounce back can help reduce the magnitude and duration of a disruptive event to a home or business. And compared with other fuels, like gasoline and diesel, propane is safe to work with and doesn’t degrade over time.
Resiliency Doesn’t Have to Come at a Premium
Cost is an important consideration for homeowners when making decisions like what appliances and systems to use—and which energy source they want to power them with. When deciding between propane and electricity, it’s important to help customers understand how the two compare—which requires taking a closer look at both energy options.
The truth is, propane can deliver one unit of energy to a home three times more efficiently than electricity produced at power plants, and according to a 2020 analysis from the Department of Energy (DOE), the energy costs of propane ($18.81 per million Btu) are less than half that of electricity ($38.28 per million Btu). Not only are propane’s energy costs more affordable, but the energy source doesn’t require trillions of dollars in infrastructure investments to remain viable like electricity does.
When builders and remodelers combine a propane generator alongside a suite of propane appliances, they provide customers with the resilience of whole-building standby protection at an affordable price. When critical systems like space and water heating are powered by propane, for example, the standby generator can typically be downsized—and made more affordable—because it’s not running power-hungry electrical heating appliances.
Lastly, simply having standby power can help homeowners and businesses save the thousands of dollars associated with power outages by continuing uninterrupted operation.
Propane offers Environmentally-friendly Operation
Green, sustainable building efforts have become a high priority for construction professionals and their customers. Using propane is an excellent way to reduce emissions while meeting a customer’s energy needs. That’s because propane doesn’t sacrifice environmental performance and produces on average 43 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than using an equivalent amount of electricity generated from the grid, according to data from PERC. Additionally, propane standby generator sets produce 25 percent fewer emissions to deliver the same energy services as grid-supplied electricity in residential applications.
The best time to start talking to customers about the importance of backup power is now, as preparation is the best defense. Propane provides homeowners and businesses with security, confidence, and peace of mind, making it a key component of the resilient design conversation.
Visit Propane.com/Generators to learn more about the benefits of propane backup power.