Green Living

When you think of Propane, you’re probably thinking of outdoor grills, generators, or furnaces, but you probably haven’t stopped to think about the potential environmental benefits to using propane over traditional energy alternatives. Propane is a fuel that can be used for a wide range of applications, from home heating, to lawn maintenance, to cooking, and even for vehicle fuel.

By understanding the ways that propane benefits the environment, you’ll be able to see the clear advantages of switching over from other fuels to power your home, or business.

The 1990 Clean Air Act

Decades after it was first enacted in 1963, the Clear Air Act was updated in the 1990s to include Propane as a clean fuel since it burns cleanly and gives far fewer greenhouses gases compared to gasoline.

An important thing to note is that…

“While coal generating plants help cause acid rain, propane combustion does not produce significant levels of the contaminants that cause that phenomenon. Because propane is nontoxic and the EPA does not regulate it, you don’t have to worry about placing propane tanks below ground where they might leak. You may also find a monetary reason for choosing propane. Some states give residents fuel tax incentives when they use propane.” Kevin Lee, Sciencing

Autogas

Propane can be used to efficiently fuel a fleet of vehicles efficiently, with less maintenance, and cleanly. In today’s world, where global warming awareness has come to the forefront, switching your fleet to an alternative fuel from gasoline will allow you the efficiency you need, without polluting further into the atmosphere.

“In 2017, greenhouse gas emissions from transportation accounted for about 28.9 percent of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, making it the largest contributor of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.” Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions, EPA.gov.

In today’s world, where global warming awareness has come to the forefront, switching your fleet to an alternative fuel from gasoline will allow you the efficiency you need, without polluting further into the atmosphere.

The Impact of Autogas:

“Since 1999, the [Acadia National Park] bus system has carried more than 7.7 million passengers, reduced private automobile traffic by more than 2.9 million vehicles, and prevented the emission of an estimated 41 tons of smog-causing pollutants and 27,000 tons of greenhouse gases.” Propane Education & Research Council, prnewswire.com

This shows the amazing value of propane as a clean fuel, and how organizations like Acadia are taking advantage of this in green areas to cut back on both traffic, and carbon dioxide emissions.

Woodburning Alternative

A warm fire is a staple of camping traditions, but did you know that breathing in smoke from a campfire can be harmful?

According to EPA…

“The smoke from wood burning is made up of a complex mixture of gases and fine particles (also called particle pollution, particulate matter, or PM).  In addition to particle pollution, wood smoke contains several toxic harmful air pollutants including benzene, formaldehyde, acrolein, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)… The biggest health threat from smoke is from fine particles, also called fine particulate matter or PM2.5. These microscopic particles can get into your eyes and respiratory system, where they may cause burning eyes, runny nose, and illnesses, such as bronchitis.” Wood Smoke and Your Health, epa.gov. 

By using a propane firepit instead, you won’t have to worry about getting smoke in the atmosphere or your eyes, and can instantly turn it on or off without all the cumbersome log work.

Lawn Maintenance

Mowing the grass is a necessary housekeeping task that’s done week after week. Instead of blowing through gasoline after every mow, consider switching to propane to not only increase your machine’s efficiency, but to also cut back on the harmful emissions that traditional fuels release into the air.