Energy Efficiency and Resilience of Building and Renovating With Propane
“Propane is clean today and even cleaner tomorrow.”
Renewable propane provides a truly renewable energy source because it is made by converting plant and vegetable oils, waste greases, and animal fat into fuel. This not only circumvents disposal of waste grease and oil, but it also allows for a circular energy source.9 Renewable propane has the same great features as conventional propane—reliability, portability, power, and reduced carbon emissions—but with even lower carbon emissions when compared with other energy sources.
While the most common form of renewable propane today is a byproduct of renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel produced from used cooking oil, more and more renewable propane is being generated from the seed oil of the camelina plant. Also known as camelina sativa or false flax, camelina is a member of the mustard family and a relative of cabbage, kale, and cauliflower. Camelina oil is a new source for renewable diesel and produces renewable propane with the lowest carbon intensity currently available. Critically, camelina is not a food crop, nor does it compete with food production. Camelina is a cover crop and is completely waste-free. The seed produces 40% oil (twice the amount yielded by soybean), the remaining meal is FDA approved for cow and chicken feed, and the husks are used for mulch. The camelina plant is beneficial for farmers because it enriches the soil and prevents erosion when fields are fallow and provides additional income without the need for new equipment.
Renewable propane delivers a high-energy conversion so that BTUs aren’t wasted, and it is price competitive. At the point of combustion, renewable propane is carbon neutral, meaning that no new carbon is added to the atmosphere when renewable propane is burned. Renewable propane has an ultra-low carbon intensity; as low as 19, or 7 with a meal credit. Under a meal credit, the seed oil is used for fuel and the remaining plant fiber is used for feedstock. By comparison, the average carbon intensity score for electricity in the U.S. is 130. Because renewable propane’s chemical structure and physical properties are the same as conventional propane, renewable propane can be used for all the same applications without needing any system or equipment changes.
U.S. fuel processors are making renewable propane today, and the push for cleaner liquid fuels such as sustainable aviation fuel and renewable diesel fuel, will lead to a sharp increase in renewable propane production.
SUMMARY
Choosing propane for a residential project secures forward-thinking environmental benefits, including reduced greenhouse gas and NOx emissions, as well as lowered energy costs. The energy density of propane allows home equipment and appliances to perform more efficiently. Since propane is designed to be safely delivered and stored on site, it offers energy security. The security, efficiency, and environmental profile of propane provide it with unique advantages when compared against other energy sources, like electricity or heating oil. With its flexibility, propane provides a good match for renovation projects seeking greater efficiency. Propane is ultimately an adaptable and high-performance energy source for any home’s portfolio, capable of contributing to net zero energy homes and environmental qualifications, including LEED for Homes (LEED H v4) and the 2015 National Green Building Standard (NGBS).