The Propane Advantage for Builders

As a builder, you know that every choice you make for your project matters – and two of the most important ones you’ll have to make are how to power your building, and how to market it so it stands out from the crowd.

Propane can help you with both.

Consider these propane advantages for new construction – especially when compared to using electricity as a power source – when it comes time to market your project:

1. Efficiency – Propane appliances are extremely clean-burning and efficient, and will almost always outperform electric models of similar size and output. A tankless propane water heater, for example, can save its users up to 50 percent on their monthly energy bills compared to electric systems, according to the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC).
2. Eco performance – Propane emits less than half the greenhouse gas emissions of electricity to produce the same amount of energy – largely because more than 40 percent of the electricity used in the US is still produced by coal-fired plants. Powering up with propane is so much greener than electricity, in fact, that using it can earn your project points toward LEED certification (in LEED v4, commercial building projects can earn up to 28 points for propane installations, thanks mostly to its Energy and Atmosphere provisions). It will also help you attract eco-conscious buyers.
3. Backup power – With propane onsite, you can make installing backup power generators much convenient and affordable – a huge benefit for future tenants as severe weather and power outages become more commonplace.
4. Versatility – Propane can power just about any appliance or home comfort system – everything from space heaters, water heaters and cooking rangers to clothes dryers and even fireplaces – all from a single aboveground or underground storage tank.
5. Comfort – Although electric heat pumps run efficiently, the fact that they don’t distribute air that’s warm to the touch can have a big impact on the people’s perception of comfort. Energy-efficient propane furnaces heat air to a much higher temperature than electric heat pumps, making it easier to warm the home quickly and retain a comfortable temperature in colder weather – a big bonus here in Connecticut.
6. Outdoor living options – Propane hearths, space heaters and lighting provide an inviting setting inside and outside the home – a key selling point for building owners.
7. Safety – The propane industry is highly regulated by codes and standards set by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), the Department of Energy (DOE), the Department of Transportation (DOT) and various state and local regulatory bodies – a key reason why there are so few propane accidents each year. Propane technicians are also highly trained and backed by the industry’s voluntary Certified Employee Training Program (CETP).
8. Incentives – Efficiency isn’t the only economic benefit to choosing propane. Incentives can save you even more (we can help you discover these and others for your project).

Pondering the prospects of powering with propane? We think you should! Contact us to learn more today – and if you need temporary heating for your project, we can help you with that, too.