Sunday, 16 August 2015

Propane For A Greener World & Home

By Cath Buhr


There are many reasons why propane is an excellent option for a household fuel. Propane is one of the most efficient fuels you can use for household energy, and unlike many other options, it is one of the safest for the environment. That might surprise you, given that propane is produced during the refining of petroleum, but propane does not harm the environment and is not a greenhouse gas.

We all know the environmental hazards of using coal or wood to heat our homes, and nuclear power produces toxic waste, not to mention the disasters that potentially can occur at a nuclear power plant. Even natural gas, if it leaks, is highly damaging to the environment. With propane, you won't damage the environment nor will you be tied to the grid. If you combine propane use with solar energy, this can be all you might need to truly live a greener lifestyle. Of course, propane tank prices and the cost of filling up a tank is something to consider. Fortunately, there are some easy ways to find low propane prices and save money.

First of all, you can lower your propane costs easily by simply purchasing propane when the propane prices are very low. Usually you will find that propane prices drop during the summer months. This is because the demand is lower. Sudden drops in petroleum prices also can influence the price of propane. Keep an eye out for low prices and fill up or pre-buy propane whenever the propane prices drop to a low level.

Aside from buying when propane prices are low, an easy way for new customers to lower their propane start-up costs is to find a company that offers you a free tank if you pre-buy a specific amount of propane. Propane companies will lease a tank to you for virtually nothing and only charge a small installation fee; however, you will be required to purchase propane only from that company during the length of your lease. If you own the tank, you are free to use whichever propane company you like, so you can truly take advantage of the lowest possible propane prices.

Finding great propane prices and propane tank prices are important, but in addition to looking for ways to save money, you also must shop for the best possible propane. Some companies sell HD-10 propane while others sell only HD-5 propane and the latter is the type that you want. This is purer propane and will burn more efficiently than HD-10 propane. Be sure that you stick with this higher quality HD-5 propane, even if it costs a few cents more per gallon.

There are plenty of ways to save after you have gotten the best propane prices and filled up your tank. For instance, for about $100 or less, you can purchase a thermostat that can be programmed to adjust your heating and cooling settings throughout the day. This makes it easy to conserve propane. Proper insulation and ensuring that there are no air leaks around windows and doors also will help you lower your energy costs. If possible, begin replacing old appliances with the latest energy-efficient models. This is a bigger upfront cost, but these newer appliances use far less energy than your old ones.




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