Propane TV commercial

[Scott Fike]

  I've been seeing a commercial on TV that is pushing the use of propane as an alternative to electricity more and more. Here's the web adress they give:

http://usepropane.com/

Thought this was a good place for it.

[Daddymem]

Just how much better is propane over oil?  Contractors around here push oil furnaces for us off the gas grid people.   Is this because it has a lower initial cost compared to propane?  I ask because this is one of the decisions we will make if we can get this home construction off the ground.

[jdew]

I don't think it's a matter of which is better, but what is more affordable.  As far as I know they both do their job fine.  But around here, I think propane is more expensive than heating oil.  Probably depends on where you live.

[Amanda_931]

Around here, everybody goes with propane.  To the extent that I'd probably have to tote my own if I wanted heating oil.

Haul a batch of 5-gallon cans down to the farm bureau co-op, get off-road diesel.

(Of course, since I'm using grill gas bottles here, that's about what I do with my propane.  But since all I'm using it for is the stove, a grill gas bottle lasts for a couple of months.)

Somehow I'd like to be able to be oil-free for  most of my utilities.

[John Raabe]

In many parts of the country oil is a more economical fuel per delivered BTU. It is also true that propane is more popular here in the Northwest but oil delivery is pretty available as well.

Here is a freestanding oil stove that I have been thinking about getting when I get tired of moving chunks of wood three times.

• PDF brochure: http://www.napoleonfireplaces.com/Webshare/Brochures/OS10_OS11.pdf
• Review: http://hearth.com/ratesingles/rate955.html
• 16 page installation manual (PDF):
http://www.napoleonfireplaces.com/Webshare/installation_manuals/Savoy_OS11.pdf

[glenn kangiser]

It is way cheaper for us to heat our house in the valley with oil (Using the real efficient Monitor heater) than it was with propane.  I believe there is more heating power in oil than propane - works that way for powering engines - if cost comparisons don't change things.  -- Sorry that almost didn't make sense but I didn't have it in me to do better tonight. :-/

[Scott Fike]

 I found on their website the commercials they've been showing on TV. They're actualy kind of funny and make good points too. Check 'em out:

http://usepropane.com/ads/

[Scott Fike]

This chart was on their website. Actually, it kind of makes me want to use natural gas or no.2 heating oil for heating purposes, instead of propane.

Cost Comparison Chart
Energy Source       Cost* per million Btu
Electricity       $24.65
Natural Gas       $8.16
No.2 Heating Oil       $8.80
Propane       $13.25
Kerosene       $10.59

*Based on the Department of Energy's five-year average retail propane price of $1.063/gallon and electricity price of $0.0835/kWh. Appliance costs based on average consumption for a family of five.

[jonsey/downunder]

These two links may be worth checking, bearing in mind the discussion on peak oil.

http://mb-soft.com/solar/index.html

http://mb-soft.com/juca/index.html

[jdew]

If I remember right, in those commercials they are always comparing propane to electricity - now you know why.

I think propane and oil have about the same amount of energy per mass, so it really just comes down to cost.

[Daddymem]

Nice links jonseyhay!  Dig those groovy outfits man.  I think I have some family photos similar to them.

[jonsey/downunder]

Great isn't it,
I was just reading those links and it seems that the juca heater has been taken of the market. There is an explanation why with some links to another part of this webpage. Worth the look, this guy has some weird and wonderful ideas. I haven't had time to work out which are valid yet, could take some time. I found the link while looking for ground cooling tubes.
jonesy

[Daddymem]

Another possible argument for natural gas:
http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/4418987/detail.html

[Amanda_931]

Good idea.  Especially if it is in wide enough use to take some big utility company electric plants--however powered--out of use.

But I gather that we are starting to be importers of natural gas.

In other words, wish this had happened on a large scale 25 years ago.

[jonsey/downunder]

Here ya go Amanda,
I knew you would need some so I have arranged a small shipment.

Last year Australia signed a contract worth $30 billion to supply liquefied natural gas to China and another with the US.
The gas will be exported to North America's energy hungry West Coast beginning around 2010.

Australia has committed to ship about $US10 billion of gas through Shells Baja California terminal. Most of the gas will be used to satisfy Mexico's growing energy needs, with the excess to go to California where there is also a requirement for new natural gas supplies.

Mitsubishi also aims to build a gas supply business in the US where they expect an increasing shortfall of the fuel as North American output dwindles. Mitsubishi and ConocoPhillips are investing $US400 million to build a LNG terminal in California.  

They also expect to sell around 800,000 tonnes of gas to customers in Texas
jonesy
 

[Amanda_931]

(I must have lost a cookie--got asked for my name)

My "protest this" email has been full of the Baja de-liquifying plant stuff, but I hadn't quite realized that most of the gas was for Mexico.

Deliquifying cools down a whole neighborhood's worth of fishing areas, and the fish may not survive.