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When it comes to building or renovating a home, energy decisions are often dictated by the local utility or the infrastructure that’s already in place. But homeowners have more authority than they may realize when deciding which energy source will power their home. Whether planning a dream build on a remote lake or renovating a home in an established neighborhood, propane offers a resilient and efficient option.
Propane allows homeowners to live and build almost anywhere – even in areas where the natural gas line or electric grid may not extend. It is safely stored on-site, has a nearly indefinite shelf life, and is in abundant supply in the U.S., giving homeowners peace of mind that the energy will perform when they need it. Because when it comes to your ideal home, it’s the combination of where you live and how you live that makes the dream come true.
When the Gas Lines Don’t Reach
Some homeowners may assume natural gas is the default option to power gas appliances, but it’s not always the best or smartest choice. For those that want to live in more remote locations, the natural gas line may not be established. Even in new construction scenarios in less rural areas, a neighborhood may have natural gas service, but that doesn’t mean it’s a guarantee for every home in that area. If a gas main stops short of the lot or a driveway stretches several hundred yards from the main road, it could significantly increase the cost of construction or delay the project to extend the line to the home.
That was exactly the case in a recent custom home build near Charlottesville, Virginia. The lot sat in a neighborhood with natural gas, but the main line stopped at the road, and a long driveway would’ve made extending it costly and time-consuming.
Instead, the decision was made to power the home with propane. Tiger Fuel Company, a local propane supplier, installed two 500-gallon tanks buried in the yard — one to power the home and a second to power a backup generator. With this installation, the homeowner reduced their capital costs, stayed on schedule, and still benefitted from the comfort of gas appliances.
“They’re gaining a greater customer service experience,” said Taylor Sutton, chief operating officer with Tiger Fuel Company. “Propane is the only energy source that is delivered to a home by a real person, not just by utility lines. If a homeowner needs more propane, we can dispatch trucks very quickly. And best of all, this gives the homeowners greater energy security by having the dedicated tanks for both the house and for backup power.”
This strategic decision to use propane offers greater independence and faster deployment without compromising on comfort.
More Resilient Than the Grid
While the electric grid may reach more homes, it doesn’t guarantee performance or peace of mind. It may seem appealing at first glance to consider an all-electric home. But if you look closer, that convenience can quickly become catastrophic when you consider its performance and reliability.
A new Department of Energy report found that the electric grid won’t be able to support the soaring power demands from data centers and home energy use and warns that blackouts could increase 100x by the year 2030. This means an already unstable and overburdened grid could become even less reliable. That makes propane a smart option for homeowners looking for dependable energy.
“Going all-electric puts all your energy eggs in one basket,” Sutton explained. “That’s not necessarily in the best interest of the homeowner. Because if the power does go out, then you lose power to everything in your home.”
Beyond reliability, Sutton says propane offers cost and performance benefits compared with all-electric homes. He explained that an average 2,500-square-foot, all-electric home may require 400 amps of service — double the usual capacity — to power heat and hot water. That demand increases upfront costs for panels, breakers, and wiring.
In these scenarios, Sutton recommends working with your builder to install propane appliances as a complementary system to improve efficiency, lower construction costs, and give yourself a reliable backup if the power does go out.
“If you put in just a propane tankless water heater, you’re not spending any more money for the water heater. It’s providing endless amounts of water for you, and it can eliminate a lot of the extra panels, breakers, and wiring you need to build for your house,” he said.
The same is true for backup heat. When temperatures fall below 30 degrees, electric homes rely on resistance heating, similar to a toaster coil that’s embedded within a heat pump system. This method is highly inefficient, energy intensive, and pumps extremely dry air into the home. Propane systems are much more efficient and provide more comfortable heat during these times.
“By adding a propane furnace, you’re gaining reliability and eliminating another 100 amps of service that you need. And it’s cost-effective: the cost of propane per gallon is cheaper than it is to buy the electricity to power the ‘toaster coil’ in your backup auxiliary heat.”
Most importantly, Sutton highlighted the need for reliable backup power with a propane-powered generator. During an outage, the generator turns on in as little as 10 seconds to provide reliable power.
“Since generators are getting cheaper all the time, we see a lot of them getting installed,” he said. “It’s nice to have that backup.” Propane generators can power all of a home’s essential systems to help homeowners avoid disruption of their daily lives, as well as expensive side effects of a power outage, like spoiled food and hotel stays.
Choosing Propane Means Choosing Control
The right energy choice can mean the difference between comfort, efficiency, and peace of mind – or being left in the dark. That’s why Sutton says it’s so important for homeowners to talk with their builders about their energy preferences. Because the reality is, homeowners may have to lobby for the features they want.
“For anybody that’s building a home: push the issue of what options you have,” he advised. “Go into the process knowing that this can save money in the long run and provide a greater level of comfort. Say, ‘This is the kind of house I want,’ and when you get to the utility piece say, ‘I want a propane tankless water heater and gas backup.’”
Homeowners should feel empowered to ask questions, start the conversation, and not settle for what’s easiest, but rather advocate for how they want to live and for the energy source that will best support their lifestyle.
