Natural Gas: This Industry's Critical Role in Keeping Us Warm This Winter

Natural Gas: This Industry’s Critical Role in Keeping Us Warm This Winter

What do we all do in the coldest months of the year? We turn up the heat! But, have you thought about what you would do without it? Staying warm during those long winter nights would be much more difficult! If you’re looking to learn more about the role that natural gas plays in our daily lives, read on to discover the importance that this industry will play during the upcoming winter months. 

Heating Your Home

When it comes to heating our homes, there are three main sources: electricity, natural gas, or fuel oil. Natural gas is one of the most common fuels used for heating in homes throughout the United States. In fact, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), 42% of all homes use natural gas as their primary source for space heating and water heating.

Natural gas heats faster, uses less energy, and emits fewer greenhouse gasses than other traditional heating sources. And since its supply chain is simple and more direct than fuel oils or electricity, when demand rises during winter months, natural gas prices tend to rise much less quickly.

What Heat Source Is Right For Your Home?

Natural gas is commonly used for cooking, heating water, and heating entire homes in the winter. It has become popular in recent years as more people turn away from more traditional energy sources such as coal and petroleum due to environmental concerns. Natural gas burns cleaner and emits less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere during combustion than coal and other types of fossil fuels. Natural gas is also abundant, relatively inexpensive (when compared to other fossil fuels), and easy to transport—making it a reliable fuel choice for homeowners.  These factors make natural gas an appealing alternative. Power plants that produce electricity also rely on natural gas or diesel fuel to generate heat. And while they are not necessary for staying warm during the winter, furnaces also run on natural gas.

Lower Prices and Energy Efficient

What if you could stay warm all season long without making a big dent in your wallet? Natural gas is the answer. Natural gas provides up to 20% more heat than other fossil fuels such as propane, kerosene and heating oil so you can enjoy a warmer home. When you use natural gas for home heating, it gives off almost twice as much energy per pound when burned compared with propane. Using natural gas for heating your home is a safe, economical way to keep your family comfortable and reduce monthly bills.

Delivering Warmer Heat Faster

Natural gas is clean, efficient, and delivers warmer heat faster and 25 to 35 degrees warmer than other heating sources. In comparison to these other heating sources, natural gas furnace heat is distributed more evenly throughout a home. By converting to natural gas, you eliminate those frustrating hot and cold spots in your home this winter that occur when using other heating sources. It’s a difference you can feel. 

Support Safe Gas Production and Keep Your Holidays Bright

So when you turn up your thermostat this winter, remember that your comfort and safety are made possible by our nation’s oil and natural gas companies. It’s their efforts that provide you with affordable, reliable energy for your home so that you can enjoy this holiday season thanks to their hard work.

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