How Efficient is Propane?

Comparing propane to electricity, natural gas and other home fuels.

Every week, we talk to homeowners from Provincetown to the South Shore who are curious about switching to propane from another energy source. Some are tired of losing all their systems and appliances during a grid outage. Others want a versatile fuel that can power more than just home heating.

Regardless of the reason for their interest in propane, people want all the facts before changing fuels. One of the topics they wish to discuss is propane’s efficiency, particularly compared to other common energy sources like electricity or natural gas. At Cape Cod Oil & Propane, we have plenty of experience installing propane appliances and providing the most dependable propane delivery in the area. We can give you a full breakdown of propane’s efficiency.

How does propane stack up on efficiency?

Propane is one of the most efficient home fuels. Here are a few key facts that illustrate this:

• Propane generates more than double the Btu per cubic foot of natural gas (2,516 Btu for propane vs. 1,050 Btu for natural gas).
• To generate the same amount of energy created by burning one gallon of propane, you need 27 kilowatt-hours of electricity.
• High-efficiency propane furnaces are between 90 and 98 percent efficient. Propane boilers have efficiencies of 85 percent or higher. This means that you lose virtually no energy in combustion when heating your home.
• We lose roughly 60 percent of all energy used in electricity generation during conversion. It takes 3.03 units of electricity to deliver one unit of energy to your home. By contrast, 1.01 units of propane can provide one unit of energy.
• Propane water heaters have a hot water recovery rate of roughly double the speed of an electric model. A study performed by the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) compared single-family homes that use electric and propane hot water systems. The houses with propane water heaters saved about $355 per year on energy compared to electrical products.
• Propane dryers get your laundry dry 25 percent faster than electric dryers. They also leave fewer wrinkles and less static cling!

As you can see, propane offers unparalleled efficiency across a range of home comfort systems and appliances.

Cape Cod Oil & Propane — Delivering efficient home comfort since 1974!

Cape Cod Oil & Propane began with one delivery truck and one service van, but what set us apart was our commitment to our customers’ comfort and peace of mind. We pride ourselves on reliably delivering premium propane.

Beyond that, we also help homeowners across the Cape make the change to efficient clean-burning propane. We can identify the right propane tank for your home’s needs and even set you up with wireless tank monitoring. In fact, we can sometimes complete your home’s change to propane in only one day!

Are you interested in exploring the benefits of converting to propane? Get in touch with our team today to learn more about this fantastic, efficient fuel.