Posted: April 27, 2026
You may know that there are a lot of benefits to using propane. It’s versatile and efficient—and it’s the top choice in the kitchen for chefs and home cooks alike. But did you know that a lot of those benefits are environmental? When you compare them, propane can be cleaner and greener than electricity in many ways.
It’s true that using electricity produces zero emissions. But generating electricity is another matter. The fact is, the generation of electricity is the second-largest creator of greenhouse gasses in the United States. Only the transportation sector creates more greenhouse gases. That’s because more than 63% of our electricity comes from burning fossil fuels, mostly coal and natural gas. That’s something to keep in mind as the push to go all electric gets stronger—at least until we can reliably generate and store electricity from carbon-free sources like wind and solar.
Propane, on the other hand, produces 43% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than generating the equivalent amount of electricity. It also produces fewer of the chemicals that lead to acid rain and respiratory problems. And there’s an even “greener” type of propane that’s gaining in usage and availability. Renewable propane is made from sustainable sources—most commonly animal fats and vegetable oils. Much like other biofuels, it has a very small carbon footprint and requires no new or special equipment.
Unlike fuels like coal and oil, propane is not mined. That means is doesn’t contribute to deforestation or destruction of other natural resources. It is primarily manufactured from natural gas as a by-product of methane purification.
Propane is nontoxic, so it doesn’t harm soil or groundwater, and will not create an environmental hazard if spilled—an important factor when it comes to determining whether a fuel is “green.” When propane vapor is released into the environment, it’s harmless.
What does efficiency have to do with the environment? Efficiency, and energy efficiency, means doing more with less—and propane is extremely energy efficient. 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. Likewise, propane appliances are very efficient, wasting very little fuel in the combustion process. That kind of efficiency is as beneficial to the environment as it is to your wallet.
Meanwhile, about two-thirds of the energy used by a power plant to generate and transmit electricity is wasted.
If you’re a homeowner who cares about the environment, but you also want to keep your energy costs under control, propane is a win-win option for running many of the appliances and systems in your home. Sure, electricity is necessary to run a lot of things—lights, phones, your computer and TV. But it’s not the smartest choice for all your appliances and systems. Propane is efficient and better than electricity for cooking, and heating water—and running appliances that use heat and hot water, like washing machines and dryers. Propane is not just a versatile and efficient choice, it’s an environmentally friendly choice.
Have questions? The team at Roberts Energy can show you all the ways that propane can help you power your Vermont home or business. Contact us for more information today.
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