For homeowners, finding ways to save money on energy is a top priority. While basic costs for fuel have stabilized, the cost of heating a home is still one of the most costly home expenses. The good news is by using natural gas; homeowners can save a substantial amount of money on their energy expenses and significantly decrease their carbon footprint.
When considering your next furnace, hot water heater or other major appliance, installing natural gas offers so many advantages to the homeowner. In fact, the top ten reasons homeowners install natural gas may surprise you.
The Top Ten Reasons Homeowners Use Natural Gas
Energy Cost Reduction
When compared to the use of oil-based furnaces and hot water heaters, homeowners can save as much as 40% on their energy costs. When compared to the overall cost of electricity, including comparing the cost of the furnace, installation, and cost of usage, gas is cheaper by about 35%-40% as well.
Energy Efficiency
Because natural gas heats almost instantly, the efficiency in use is quite high. The overall energy efficiency in heating with a new gas furnace is about 90%. When it comes to the how much of the primary natural gas from the source makes it to the user, the percentage is about 92% of natural gas makes it from its origination point to its user.
Because the transmission of natural gas is so efficient, it can be sold at a substantially lower rate than other fuels such as home heating oil and electricity. By contrast, electricity loses up to 60 percent of its original energy amount by the time it reaches its user.
Environmentally Cleaner
Natural Gas is one of the most environmentally friendly energy sources on the planet. Gas burns cleaner and is harvested with fewer energy concerns than oil and coal. When it comes to environmental impact, natural gas puts out significantly less sulfur dioxide into the environment than other fossil fuels.
Sulfur Dioxide is one of the main components of acid rain. Natural gas also puts out less Nitrogen Oxide than other fossil fuels. Nitrogen Oxide is the primary ingredient in smog pollution.
Additionally, natural gas also carries less particulate matter than coal or oil does. Higher amounts of particulate matter are widely known to adversely affect health and clean air. Because of these factors and more, the average family that uses natural gas can decrease their carbon footprint by at least 50% over the use of home heating oil or electric heat.
When it comes to fuel harvesting, natural gas is cleaner to tap into than either oil and coal and causes no deforestation like wood pellets and firewood. Other than solar power, it is considered the cleanest home energy source.
Heats Quicker
In contrast to other heating fuels such as coal, wood or oil, the heating process for natural gas is significant. Natural gas has no warm-up time because it heats instantly. When comparing natural gas and electric hot water heaters, a natural gas hot water heater will recover to a completely heated tank 40% faster than an electric hot water tank. Additionally, natural gas heat feels warmer and works faster than even an electric heat pump.
Natural Gas is Paid for After Usage
Compared to home heating oil, coal, wood, and wood pellets, natural is paid for on a usage basis. That means that customers only pay for what they use, and there is no need for fuel tanks or fuel bins such as coal or wood bins to house a fuel supply.
Continues to Work During Power Outages
This is one of the biggest advantages of natural gas. If the gas furnace, hot water heater, and appliances have the right components, they can be used even without electricity. In most cases with modern units, natural gas can heat a home, supply heat for hot water and be available for cooking in the event of a power outage.
Since foul weather is on the rise and there is an increased number of storm systems that have been causing power outages in Alberta, having heat, hot water, and cooking ability during a power outage can be a significant benefit for a homeowner.
Perfect for Clean, Beautiful, and Warm Fireplaces
Fireplaces that are fueled by natural gas offer a clean, beautiful flame that provides incredible ambiance and warmth. There are no worries of lugging firewood, there are no increased levels of smoke emissions, and no worries about cleaning out ash build up in a fireplace after a few uses. Natural gas fireplaces also heat a room much quicker than other fossil fuel fireplaces such as wood, coal or pellet stoves and they provide users an instant full flame.
Natural Gas Sourcing Rarely Requires any Foreign Imports
Because Canada has an ample supply of natural gas, the fluctuations in prices and availability are nominal. By contrast, prices for oil can fluctuate more substantially because many of the country’s oil supply is imported.
Natural Gas Is Highly Versatile
Other than electricity; natural gas is the most versatile energy source because it can be used for almost every major home function except basic electricity use. With the proper appliances, natural gas can heat a home, and provide the energy source to cook, dry clothes and heat the home’s water source.
It can also be used to heat a swimming pool or a hot tub. When used for cooking, natural gas cooks food faster and allows for better temperature control, especially on the stovetop burners. When used for clothes drying, it also provides the added benefit of less static cling.
Is a Convenient Energy Source
Because the source of natural gas can be brought right into a home, there is no need to worry about storing it and no worry about access when needed. It operates in the same way as public water or public electricity and is piped directly into a gas pipeline into the home. Because there is no worry over individual deliveries, homeowners do not have to worry about running out of fuel during high energy usage seasons.
Long Term Cost Savings
Because of the ample benefits, many homeowners are shifting from other fossil fuels to an Alberta energy provider for natural gas when they are investing in new furnaces, hot water heaters or home appliances such as stoves and dryers. Comparisons of cost should always include expected annual savings for the cost of the supply.
While the furnace, hot water heater or appliance may be more costly to purchase and install, the annual energy savings will usually pay for the difference in expense within the first two years of natural gas usage.
