Roach Energy has been fulfilling the home comfort needs of Eastern Panhandle families for over 70 years, and a lot has changed over the years. We’ve expanded our fuel and service options. Home heating technology has evolved quite a bit, too. Finally, the way we talk about our home energy choices has changed. It’s not just about ensuring year-round comfort (although that’s still our top priority). We also need to consider the impact our energy choices have on the planet.
You might have neighbors, friends, family members or co-workers who have chosen to convert to electric home heating, hot water equipment and appliances. While it might seem intuitive that electrifying your home would shrink its carbon footprint, the reality is more complex.
In this article, we’ll compare the environmental impact of propane and grid electricity.
A useful metric for understanding the emissions impact of energy sources is carbon intensity (CI). Carbon intensity measures the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted to produce a specific amount of energy. It is typically expressed in grams of CO2 equivalent per megajoule of energy (gCO2eq/MJ). This metric provides a clear way to compare the environmental impact of different types of fuel.
Grid electricity is only as clean as the energy sources used to generate it. In West Virginia, we use coal to generate almost 90% of our grid electricity. Consequently, the CI score of our grid is more than double the national average: 270 gCO2eq/MJ.
What about propane’s CI? Conventional propane (produced as part of the natural gas extraction or oil refining processes) has a CI of only 79. That’s less than one-third the carbon impact of our state’s grid power! Add to that the fact that propane is methane-free and emits virtually no particulate matter in combustion. You can see that it’s an exceptionally eco-friendly home energy choice.
And propane is only getting greener. Every year, we see more and more renewable propane being produced. Renewable propane is molecularly identical to conventional propane, but it’s made using renewable feedstocks like woody biomass, municipal waste, plant oils and used cooking grease. What’s the typical CI of renewable propane? 20.5 gCO2eq/MJ, or roughly 8% of the CI of West Virginia’s electricity.
Renewable propane is not widely used in homes yet, but you can expect to see it emerging as a sustainable fuel choice in the coming years.
Homeowners in Martinsburg and surrounding communities trust the Roach Energy team for reliable, affordable propane delivery. We offer customers free automatic delivery. You don’t need to fret about forgetting to check your propane tank gauge. Our automated system will track your fuel usage, and we’ll pre-emptively schedule your next delivery so you won’t run out. It’s a 100% stress-free way to keep your home’s heat, hot water and gas appliances running without interruption.
Don’t you deserve a propane delivery partner that’s committed to your comfort and peace of mind? Join the family of satisfied Roach Energy customers.
