If you were to mention off-grid living, most people think of “roughing it outdoors.” But today, an off-grid lifestyle can include every convenience of modern living, thanks to the versatility and efficiency of propane gas.
If you’ve relied on a whole-house generator to get through extended outages, you’re probably not too surprised by this fact. Propane is clean-burning and abundant—90% of the United States’ supply of propane is domestically generated—making it a cost-effective home energy solution that can help lower energy bills whether you’re living on- or off-grid.
Rural North Carolina is beautiful and building in a remote location can be desirable for all kinds of reasons. However, connecting to electric and natural gas can cost thousands of dollars. Propane can be safely stored on your property, right in a tank. Combined with other alternative and renewable energy sources like solar, propane can transform off-grid living from extreme to extremely comfortable. Here’s how:
Propane generates more Btus than an equivalent amount of electricity, so you need much less propane to produce the same amount of heat or energy. Also, propane appliances are very efficient, so they waste very little fuel in the combustion process.
In addition to heating, propane is extremely efficient for powering a wide variety of gas appliances. When it comes to cooking, most chefs prefer the control that comes with a gas range. And propane water heaters generate much more hot water at a cheaper cost per gallon.
In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, homes that heat water with propane rather than electricity can see average annual savings of $174.
The same technology that makes propane ideal for water heaters makes it a smarter choice than electricity to power all kinds of appliances that use hot water or heat:
For off-grid living, a propane-powered whole house generator provides the reliability and security other people get from the grid. A generator will kick on seamlessly when your solar or wind power is depleted—no glitchy flickering, no brownouts. And, for those who are connected to the main grid but experience frequent outages due to storms, a whole-house generator can make the wait for utility-line repairs less of a hassle.
Another factor that makes propane so reliable, on-grid or off, is that you store your supply right on your property.
Rand Wade offers propane storage tanks of all sizes, including commercial-capacity tanks. We can help evaluate your needs—based on the size of your home, and how many appliances you want to run—and help you choose the right size tank. From permits to lighting your pilots after your first fill-up, we’ll make tank installation easy. We also offer automatic delivery service to help ensure you always have enough propane!
When it comes to environmental impact, propane gas is a good choice. It burns cleanly and produces minimal emissions. Propane also doesn’t harm soil or groundwater—an important factor in determining whether a fuel is truly “green.” Propane is also an American energy source, most of which comes from the processing of natural gas.
Maybe you’re building your dream home or a vacation hideaway well off the beaten path. Or maybe you’ve experienced extended outages due to an out-of-the-way location and utilities that tend to restore more populated areas first. Maybe you just want to add a back-up generator to your propane-fueled home system. Whatever your goals and needs, the pros at Rand Wade can answer all your questions!
Contact us today for more information or to become a customer.
