Beautiful Virgin Islands

Monday, Oct 06, 2025

Ask an Expert: How Can I Make My Home More Energy-Independent?

Ask an Expert: How Can I Make My Home More Energy-Independent?

When you can’t connect to the grid, rely on natural gas, or store enough solar energy, propane is a dependable way to power your home. We asked an expert how it works.

It’s the most beautiful piece of land-surrounded by forest, near a river, or perhaps just steps from the ocean. You can picture your home there, far from the bustle of society. The only problem is: How will you power it?

Most people use propane to heat patios and fire up outdoor grills. But when connecting your home to natural gas or the grid isn’t viable-say you’ve decided to take up van life or live in an area far from utilities-then propane could be a beneficial addition to your energy mix.

We wanted to learn more about responsible use of propane, so we spoke with Bryan Cordill, director of residential and commercial business development at the Propane Education & Research Council (PERC).

What types of homes benefit from propane systems?


Propane makes it possible to build wherever you like, even in the most remote areas. Use is most common in larger, rural lots and on land where the cost of natural gas infrastructure doesn’t make sense based on the area’s sparse density of housing. These locations also tend to have fragile electrical service, so it gives the builder even more incentive to use products that require less electricity.



Studio Schicketanz often works with clients who decide to build in off-grid places. The goal of this family vacation home overlooking the coastline in Big Sur was to disrupt the natural landscape as little as possible. Its power system includes a propane tank, which is buried in the ground.

Does propane make sense for homes near cities where electricity is widely available?


Even if you don’t live in the wilds, propane can round out your power supply and help carry the load when electricity is unfeasible. We are also seeing a dramatic increase of propane used in new subdivision developments. It comes down to reliability-propane adds to your home’s energy independence.



The Cappo residence (shown) by Studio Schicketanz cascades down a steep hillside overlooking Point Lobos near Carmel. A propane system was part of the plan that allowed the home to be sited in this idyllic spot.

Are there instances when propane can actually outperform electricity?


In terms of convenience and cost savings, propane furnaces and boilers are good examples. Take water heating, for instance. A propane-fueled, tankless water heating system allows the homeowner to have hot water on demand without having to spend money keeping it hot when they don’t need it. On the other hand, a storage tank–based electric water heater needs time to reheat between uses, making it inconvenient when everyone needs a bath or shower at the same time. Same goes for the air-heating system-you want it to respond quickly and bring the home to a comfortable temperature.



"A gas fireplace or fire table can keep guests comfortable on cooler nights, while propane mosquito control devices can be helpful during the warmer months," explains Cordill.

A significant portion of electricity available through the grid is still powered by fossil fuel. Are there advantages to storing propane on-site in terms of controlling how much of it you use?


Using propane on-site is much more efficient than using electricity generated by burning coal or natural gas at a plant miles away. Only about one-third of the energy from the gas or coal at the plant reaches your home, which means it takes three times as much fuel at the plant to match the same amount of energy supplied by propane stored at your home. In this case, powering some appliances with propane can reduce your dependence on electricity, relieve strain on the grid, and decrease the size and cost of the standby generator needed.

Can you give another example of a situation where propane makes sense?


A common cause of power outages is people’s dependence on electric resistance heat as a backup to their air-source heat pumps. When the temperatures fall below 40 degrees, most of those heat pumps can't keep up, and the added strain can cause a major increase on the electric grid, leading to the system’s failure. In this instance, the propane-fueled home would still be up and running.



Studio Schicketanz’s Dani Ridge residence is perched on a cliff overlooking the coastline along Highway One in California and surrounded by native grasslands.

Outdoor heaters powered by propane have been ubiquitous since the pandemic. What should we look for in these types of heaters in terms of fuel consumption and effectiveness?


Always start with the manufacturer’s safety guide for installation clearances in relation to combustibles or heat-sensitive building materials. Beyond that, you need to think about how you want to use the appliance. Perhaps it’s the "mushroom" patio heater, with 360-degree radiation, that will best meet your needs, or maybe you need something more directional, like a wall-mounted infrared heater. You can have it connected to the home’s propane system and larger storage tank, or you can opt for the flexibility of a portable cylinder.



This home design by Studio Schicketanz includes a heated outdoor soaking tub with an unbeatable view. "By using propane to power all the high-consumption appliances in the home-such as water heaters, cooktops, and spas-you allow the electrical supply to power the things it does best: lighting, ventilation fans, and water well pumps," says Cordill.

How can propane enhance the way we entertain in our outdoor spaces?


The built-in propane grill is the heart and soul of the ultimate outdoor kitchen, and there are lots of models and options available to meet the needs of the most discerning chef. A gas fireplace or fire table can keep guests comfortable on cooler nights, while propane-powered mosquito control devices can be helpful during the warmer months. I also use a high-output-power burner in my outdoor kitchen for boiling seafood and blackening fresh fish.



"I have often said that no one ever invites you over to their new all-electric outdoor kitchen," says Cordill, noting propane plays an essential part in many homeowners’ outdoor entertaining set-ups.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Munich Airport Reopens After Second Drone Shutdown
France Names New Government Amid Political Crisis
Trump Stands Firm in Shutdown Showdown and Declares War on Drug Cartels — Turning Crisis into Opportunity
Surge of U.S. Billionaires Transforms London’s Peninsula Apartments into Ultra-Luxury Stronghold
Pro Europe and Anti-War Babiš Poised to Return to Power After Czech Parliamentary Vote
Jeff Bezos Calls AI Surge a ‘Good’ Bubble, Urges Focus on Lasting Innovation
Japan’s Ruling Party Chooses Sanae Takaichi, Clearing Path to First Female Prime Minister
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Sentenced to Fifty Months in Prison Following Prostitution Conviction
Taylor Swift’s ‘Showgirl’ Launch Extends Billion-Dollar Empire
Trump Administration Launches “TrumpRx” Plan to Enable Direct Drug Sales at Deep Discounts
Trump Announces Intention to Impose 100 Percent Tariff on Foreign-Made Films
Altman Says GPT-5 Already Outpaces Him, Warns AI Could Automate 40% of Work
Singapore and Hong Kong Vie to Dominate Asia’s Rising Gold Trade
Trump Organization Teams with Saudi Developer on $1 Billion Trump Plaza in Jeddah
Manhattan Sees Surge in Office-to-Housing Conversions, Highest Since 2008
Switzerland and U.S. Issue Joint Assurance Against Currency Manipulation
Electronic Arts to Be Taken Private in Historic $55 Billion Buyout
Thomas Jacob Sanford Named as Suspect in Deadly Michigan Church Shooting and Arson
Russian Research Vessel 'Yantar' Tracked Mapping Europe’s Subsea Cables, Raising Security Alarms
New York Man Arrested After On-Air Confession to 2017 Parents’ Murders
U.S. Defense Chief Orders Sudden Summit of Hundreds of Generals and Admirals
Global Cruise Industry Posts Dramatic Comeback with 34.6 Million Passengers in 2024
Trump Claims FBI Planted 274 Agents at Capitol Riot, Citing Unverified Reports
India: Internet Suspended in Bareilly Amid Communal Clashes Between Muslims and Hindus
Supreme Court Extends Freeze on Nearly $5 Billion in U.S. Foreign Aid at Trump’s Request
Archaeologists Recover Statues and Temples from 2,000-Year-Old Sunken City off Alexandria
China Deploys 2,000 Workers to Spain to Build Major EV Battery Factory, Raising European Dependence
Speed Takes Over: How Drive-Through Coffee Chains Are Rewriting U.S. Coffee Culture
U.S. Demands Brussels Scrutinize Digital Rules to Prevent Bias Against American Tech
Ringo Starr Champions Enduring Beatles Legacy While Debuting Las Vegas Art Show
Private Equity’s Fundraising Surge Triggers Concern of European Market Shake-Out
Colombian President Petro Vows to Mobilize Volunteers for Gaza and Joins List of Fighters
FBI Removes Agents Who Kneeled at 2020 Protest, Citing Breach of Professional Conduct
Trump Alleges ‘Triple Sabotage’ at United Nations After Escalator and Teleprompter Failures
Shock in France: 5 Years in Prison for Former President Nicolas Sarkozy
Tokyo’s Jimbōchō Named World’s Coolest Neighbourhood for 2025
European Officials Fear Trump May Shift Blame for Ukraine War onto EU
BNP Paribas Abandons Ban on 'Controversial Weapons' Financing Amid Europe’s Defence Push
Typhoon Ragasa Leaves Trail of Destruction Across East Asia Before Making Landfall in China
The Personality Rights Challenge in India’s AI Era
Big Banks Rebuild in Hong Kong as Deal Volume Surges
Italy Considers Freezing Retirement Age at 67 to Avert Scheduled Hike
Italian City to Impose Tax on Visiting Dogs Starting in 2026
Arnault Denounces Proposed Wealth Tax as Threat to French Economy
Study Finds No Safe Level of Alcohol for Dementia Risk
Denmark Investigates Drone Incursion, Does Not Rule Out Russian Involvement
Lilly CEO Warns UK Is ‘Worst Country in Europe’ for Drug Prices, Pulls Back Investment
Nigel Farage Emerges as Central Force in British Politics with Reform UK Surge
Disney Reinstates ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ after Six-Day Suspension over Charlie Kirk Comments
U.S. Prosecutors Move to Break Up Google’s Advertising Monopoly
×