When we moved into our home, there were some things that we knew we wanted to upgrade. For starters, the place had some really old appliances, and we could tell they were taking up loads of energy. Instead of worrying about it, we began looking for ways to improve the house by replacing the appliances with more energy efficient versions. We found a great appliance shop that had exactly what we were looking for, and they were even having a little sale on their products. This website is completely dedicated to energy efficient items, because you never know when you will need them.
For people in outlying areas, propane is a convenient and useful fuel that they can store at home. But these areas often have access to city and county natural gas utilities. If you're fixing up an old property, have to redo the entire fuel system, and need to choose between propane and using the utility's gas, your choice will depend on a few considerations.
City Responsibility
If you have natural gas delivered via regular municipal lines, more repair costs will be shouldered by the city or county utility department. You'll still be responsible for lines and connections inside the home (the gas company can check out leaks, for example, but you'd need to hire a repair company to fix your stove connections), but the utility company would take care of underground lines leading away from your property. If you store propane on your property and use that instead, all repair and maintenance costs are your responsibility.
Energy Efficiency
Propane is usually more energy-efficient than the natural gas you get through municipal lines. However, the cost of either one and your own rate of use affect how much you'll pay and how often you'd need to refill your propane stocks. If all costs are equal, propane will likely be more efficient for you, and it has the advantage of being something you have on your property, so no matter what happens to municipal gas supplies (e.g., a leak down the line that cuts off supplies), you'd have fuel.
Both Are Eco-Friendly
Remember that propane is derived from natural gas, so both have about the same level of eco-friendliness in terms of how they're obtained. Both are clean-burning, too, so if you're concerned about the effect of either on the environment, you'd be fine using either natural gas or propane.
Both Have Leak Potential
Both are gases, so both can leak out of lines and tanks if damage occurs. Natural gas is treated with an additive to give it that distinct smell (so you can detect leaks just through odor); propane is also treated with an odor additive, though this may smell more like skunks than a gassy smell. Take the same precautions with both: Call your service provider immediately if you smell something and leave the building. If you provide your own propane in small tanks, contact the company you bought the tanks from. If you live in an area that already has a high skunk population (so you get that smell a lot), discuss with the propane company how to tell the difference between the smells.
Your ability to stay warm, get hot water, and cook is of utmost importance and is part of what determines the habitability of your home. When you can control your stocks of fuel, you gain a small advantage in that you're not reliant on a company far away for constant fuel access. However, that does mean taking on more responsibility yourself for maintenance. Contact delivery and gas companies, like L P Gas Services Inc, for more information.