Avoid expensive conversions to electric heat and continue to take advantage of heating oil and propane, two of the most efficient, clean-burning fuels available today.
Avoid Expensive Conversion Costs
There are amazing advances taking place right now in the heating oil and propane industry that have many people excited — except for those who are pushing so hard for the total
electrification of homes, including the way you’re allowed to heat them. Unfortunately, the fact that we are already moving toward achieving net-zero carbon emissions with both heating oil and propane has been virtually ignored.
That’s why it’s frustrating that efforts by government officials to mitigate the impact of climate change have focused solely on supporting conversions to electric heat pumps. But that’s an extremely expensive path to take, even with rebates being heavily promoted as an incentive to convert.
How expensive is it? Data from three heat pump conversion programs in the Northeast showed that homeowners would pay anywhere from $17,260 to $25,829 for a whole-house conversion to heat pumps.* We’re sure that you will not be surprised when we tell you that a high-efficiency heating oil or propane furnace would cost substantially less than this.
*Source: https://www.SmarterNYEnergy.org/wp-content/uploads/pdf/Cost-of-Residendial-Air-Source-Heat-Pumps- Uglietto.pdf
Many Different Ways to Use Propane
When you use multiple propane appliances in your home, you will see savings, especially if you replace old electric appliances. Because propane is such an efficient fuel, your energy expenses will go down, and you’ll experience even better value and comfort than you get from other heating sources. Here are just a few examples.
Propane gas fireplaces
If you convert your old wood fireplace to an efficient, clean-burning propane fireplace insert, you’ll enjoy a host of benefits. Besides offering great ambiance and less maintenance, a gas fireplace costs anywhere from 30% to 60% less to operate per hour than a wood-burning fireplace, which loses much of its heat through the chimney.
Propane gas clothes dryers
Whether your laundry pile regularly looks like a mountain or a molehill, it’s easy to find a propane dryer with a capacity that works for you. Quickly reaching the required temperature to dry clothes evenly, propane dryers generally operate for less than electric dryers. Plus, clothes get subjected to less wear and tear because of the moist heat of propane dryers. Your propane dryer’s moisture-sensing controls will automatically shut it off at just the right time.
Water heaters
About 20% of the energy used in your home is spent on heating your water. On average, a propane-powered water heater can deliver your hot water at about half the cost of an electric water heater. That’s why relying on propane for all your hot water needs remains a wise choice.
Propane Grills
Propane grills light instantly, heat faster than charcoal and emit less carbon monoxide and soot. Higher-end grills offer drawers, side burners, surface lighting and LED temperature displays. Many people are taking cooking to new levels by adding cooktops, ovens and rotisseries to their deck or patio.
Numbers That May Shock You
• A recent study concluded that policy-driven electrification would increase the average residential household energy-related costs by approximately 38% to 46%, resulting in an increase to the average affected residential household of between $750 and $910 per year.*
• Many U.S. states propose an energy transition similar to Germany, whose citizens now pay about 300% more for electricity on average than U.S. customers.**
• Only 12% of U.S. power comes from solar and wind, which cannot be dispatched when needed or expanded without further degrading grid reliability.**
• Electrification advocates argue grid-scale storage is the solution, powered by 100% wind and solar. This will require at least double the amount of today’s installed generating capacity.**
• A large percentage of U.S. electricity is still sourced from natural gas, which is primarily composed of methane, a potent greenhouse gas.***
*Implications of Policy-Driven Residential Electrification.
**Testimony of energy expert Mark P. Mills at the U.S. House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, 2/15/22.
***U.S. Energy Information Administration ****MyBioheat.com
Too Much, Too Soon
It should be obvious that mass-scale conversions to heat pumps will put a tremendous new strain on our fragile electric grid, which is already prone to numerous power outages.
Trying to phase out traditional fuels like heating oil, propane, and natural gas puts all our carbon reduction eggs into one expensive, untested basket. It’s too much and too soon. This speeding heat pump train we may be forced to ride will undoubtedly raise the risk of rolling blackouts during periods of extreme cold or oppressive heat.