Over half of the homes in the United States use natural gas to heat their homes. Natural gas is environmentally clean. It is the cleanest burning fossil fuel. Very few by products are emitted into the air as pollutants. For hundreds of years natural gas has been known as a very useful substance. Natural gas is one of the cheapest forms of energy available to the residential consumer. As a source of energy, natural gas has historically been much cheaper than electricity.
It has been best known around the home for heating and cooking. Some benefits of cooking with natural gas are temperature control, self cleaning and self ignition. Many top chefs in restaurants prefer a natural gas cook top and range over an electric one. The chefs like the ability to more accurately control the temperature of their food. Air conditioning equipment, like central systems, window or wall units cool the house by a refrigeration unit powered by natural gas.
Around the home, in the time an electric water heater heats a bathtub full of water, you should be able to heat two bathtubs full of water with natural gas for the same price. Also many people have natural gas air conditioners. They are a little more expensive to install but they should save you money in the long run. They should last longer and you may see that they are more efficient so you bill may intern go down. They also have a longer life expectancy. Natural gas appliances usually require less maintenance over their life. This should also save you money.
Natural gas is an important raw material for many common products in our home like plastic, glass, paper, clothing and medicine. We also use it for our outdoor grilling convenience. Whenever you want to grill out in your backyard, you can just push a button and be ready to have dinner in a few minutes.
Propane comes from natural gas when it is processed. It is colorless and odorless. It emits carbon dioxide and water vapor as a greenhouse gas. Since propane is clean burning it is a popular alternative for transportation fuel. This is a fuel that produces fewer emissions of carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons compared to gasoline engines.
Another use for propane is on the farm. Farmers use it to power their farm equipment like tractors. They also use it to dry their corn and to help with irrigation. Some indoor equipment also is fueled through propane. For instance forklifts that are used in warehouses use propane to power them.
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