Natural Gas Facts
Natural gas, the cleanest fossil fuel, is a highly efficient form of energy. Natural gas's advantages over other fuels include the following:
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It's dependable: You never have to worry about weather, delivery schedules or running out.
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FACT: Houses with natural gas services are not affected by the severe weather or mechanical disruptions that cause most residential electric power outages
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FACT: The nation's most critical buildings all rely on natural gas: the Pentagon, the White House and the Capitol building all use natural gas as a heating source.
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FACT: Many natural gas utilities have been delivering natural gas for decades, some for more than a century. They are time-tested.
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FACT: Natural gas can be counted on as a primary fuel as well as the most reliable backup to renewable energies* (natural gas is there when the wind doesn't blow or the sun doesn't shine).
*Alternative/renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar, meet only 6% of our nation's energy needs.
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It's safe:
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FACT: North America's continental natural gas pipeline system is the safest mode of energy transportation in the world today.
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FACT: The natural gas industry spends over $7 billion a year to ensure natural gas is delivered safely and reliably to your home.
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FACT: An odorant (t-butyl mercaptan) is added to natural gas by the producer so leaks can be easily detected and fixed.
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It's clean:
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FACT: Natural gas emits 45% less carbon dioxide than electricity generated from coal
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FACT: Natural gas emits 30% less carbon dioxide than fuel oil
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FACT: Energy Policy Acts of 1992 and 2005
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It's domestic:
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FACT: Natural gas is domestically available; 98% of all natural gas consumed in North America is produced within the continent.
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FACT: Natural gas is abundant; enough natural gas has been discovered to supply North America for well beyond 100 years.
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It's more efficient:
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FACT: When the entire cycle of producing, processing, transporting and using energy is considered, natural gas is delivered to the consumer with a "total energy efficiency" of about 90 percent, compared with about 27 percent for electricity.
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FACT: Natural gas heats your water two to three times faster than a typical electric water heater.
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A premium product:
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FACT: With Natural Gas you can feel the warmth. That's because unlike cooler air from an electric heat pump, a natural gas furnace delivers air that's as much as 25 degrees warmer.
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FACT: 90% of professional chefs prefer cooking with natural gas because of the ease in controlling the cooking temperature.
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