Written on: September 25, 2023
Often described as liquefied petroleum gas, or LPG, propane starts off as a gas but it’s then compressed into a liquid for efficient storage. Pressure is released when liquid propane is released from your tank and through fuel lines into your home. This causes the liquid propane to vaporize and transform into a gas again.
To give you a better understanding, let’s start at the beginning. The roots of the propane industry were planted when American chemist Walter O. Snelling discovered that some evaporating gases could be transformed into liquids. Out of all the gases, propane turned out to be the most plentiful. From there, Snelling discovered a method to bottle this liquid gas. Bottle gas, or bottled gas, is a term that you will still hear or read about today.
The process of making propane has evolved over the last century or so. Today, there are two primary ways propane is produced.
Because propane is created through the processing of natural gas and crude oil, it is a fuel that is largely a domestic product. In fact, about 90% of the American propane supply is generated right here in the United States! That abundant, right-at-home supply in your propane tank makes propane a reliable fuel choice for your home or business, and all its potential appliances and equipment, throughout the year.
This comes as a surprise to many people, but homes that are powered only by electricity are actually less energy-efficient than those running primarily on propane. Since propane naturally burns hotter, it feels warmer, and the energy produced creates a larger impact. Your energy bills will cost less with such an efficient fuel working for you, especially when paired with high-efficiency propane appliances.
While renewable propane is not widely available yet, homes and businesses all over the U.S. will eventually be able to easily use it. Since renewable propane is molecularly identical to conventional propane, there will be no need to replace or alter existing propane appliances and equipment.
What is renewable propane gas made of? Just as conventional propane is a coproduct of crude oil and natural gas extraction, most renewable propane can be considered a coproduct of biofuel creation. Many of the same feedstocks that go into creating biofuel — animal oils, vegetable oils, biomass — are used to create renewable propane.
This method of producing propane is as safe, cost-effective, and dependable as the propane that’s refined from raw natural gas or raw crude oil. And when compared to electricity, renewable propane has a considerably smaller carbon footprint.
Read more about renewable propane gas.
The propane technicians at Broco Energy are trained to keep you and your family safe. It’s our number one priority. Our staff is certified by the National Propane Gas Association (NPGA), in cooperation with the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC). Propane has an excellent safety record, and we’re proud to be a part of that.
Propane is an ideal fuel for many purposes, even beyond your water heater and heating your home with your furnace or boiler. It’s also useful for stoves, clothes dryers and fireplaces as well as for outdoor use, including pool heating and exterior lighting. And peace of mind is never far off when you have a propane-fueled generator to get you through power outages.
Please reach out to us if you would like to become a customer and get a propane delivery.
