It’s typically used for backyard barbecues and powering generators, and it’s the old standby for camping cook stoves and lanterns. Propane is often thought of as the go-to energy source only for certain situations. But propane is far more versatile than being relegated to use merely as a limited application fuel, and is an excellent off-the-grid power source for an entire household. It may be surprising to discover how many benefits there are to using propane in place of other conventional sources of energy.

Energy Efficient and Environmentally Friendly

Did you know that propane is actually a by-product created from the processing of natural gas and petroleum refinement? So, using propane is a way of efficiently using up the "table scraps" of energy already being harvested. This low-carbon footprint characteristic makes propane a type of green energy.

Propane is also environmentally friendly because of how it burns as it’s used. The nature of propane allows it to be very efficiently consumed, with low emission creation; much lower, in fact, than those created through the use of other commonly used carbon based fuels.

Safety and Convenience

Liquid propane gas (LPG) allows the homeowner to store more energy in less space compared with compressed natural gas (CNG). This is because LPG can be liquified at low pressure and safely stored within tanks of varying sizes, depending on the need. For CNG to remain more stable, it’s more efficient to spread it out in liquid form (liquid natural gas, or LNG), but that takes up a larger footprint than the same amount of propane required to provide an equal amount of energy.

This means that, considering storage space set aside for the supply of off-grid household energy, LPG is also safer than CNG, in that LPG requires far less pressure than CNG to maintain its liquid state. The extremely high pressure required to maintain CNG in its liquid state sets the stage for disaster without any forewarning. The intense pressure within a CNG canister can lead to spontaneous explosions, and even tiny leaks can results in a CNG canister setting itself off like a rocket, instantly propelling the canister into whatever obstacle is unlucky enough to get in its way.

Switching to Propane

Any household can disconnect from the grid and switch over to propane power without having to replace most household appliances. Both natural gas and electric appliances can be easily converted, and any costs of conversion--much of which can be dirt cheap--are quickly offset by savings in using affordable propane in place of more expensive natural gas or electric power sources.

A kitchen fitted with propane powered appliances is virtually indistinguishable from those outfitted with gas and/or electric appliances. The experience of preparing foods on a propane powered stovetop or oven is the same as using a range powered by natural gas. A gas absorption refrigerator powered by propane not only cools as efficiently as its electric counterpart, but does so at a very low GWP (Global Warming Potential) rating and with less ozone depletion potential than conventional refrigerators.

Propane’s characteristic nature of heating up quickly will be very much appreciated when using appliances that deliver heat in one form or another. Wet laundry tumbling in the clothes dryer starts the drying process right away, water heaters get toasty warm fast and homes cozy up quickly with propane heating.

Propane is readily available, easy to access, easy to use, safe, clean and cheaper than relying on the big industry power grids.